SUKUK road funds equally shared among geopolitical zones, says FG

The Federal Government (FG) on Thursday said contrary to perceptions, the SUKUK road funds was allocated equally among the geopolitical zones.

The Permanent Secretary of Works and Housing, Mr. Babangida Hussaini, stated this during an interactive session with journalists while on a routine inspection of Dualization of Suleja-Minna Road and Construction of Lambata-Lapai-Bida Road in Niger State.

Speaking through the Ministry’s Director, Highways Construction, the Permanent Secretary debunked claims that the Federal Government was spending more money on projects in the North than in the South.

According to him, the cost of constructing a road is determined by factors ranging from the level of deterioration before the intervention, topography of road alignment, soil texture of the area, the water table, the nearness to borrowed construction materials and the cost of haulage

“The amount provided for South-West was the same for the North-West but the length of kilometres you would cover with that same amount in North-West was by far more than if it were in the South-South.

“The landmass up North is by far more than what is in the South and these are factors that determine the cost of road construction’ Government is not biased, we are doing our best,” he added.

On the Suleja-Lambata-Minna road, he said this is an important route linking part of the North-Central and North-West zones of the country to the Federal Capital Territory and also links to Abuja/Kaduna highway at Dikko Lambata.

Accordingly, he said the road also linked to one of the Trunk ‘A’ roads and a major haulage for petroleum products, farming and other commercial activities.

He expressed satisfaction at the level and standard of work so far on the Suleja-Minna road which has reached 80% completion while 20% completion was achieved for the newly awarded Lambata-Lapai-Bida road.

He pointed out that with favourable weather, the contractors would achieve more progress on the work to meet up with the schedule.

The Project Manager of Salini Nigeria Limited in charge of Suleja-Minna road dualization, Daniel Kassa informed the inspection team that Phase I of the project was at 82% completion while Phase II, has recorded 20% completion; the remaining work was progressing.

Kassa disclosed that they have a target to complete Phase I, Dikko Interchange and another 4km from km 33 to 77 including its asphalting work while in Phase II, they still have 3km to be completed and another 4km ahead to catch up with before rainy season.

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