In line with the All Progressives Congress, APC manifesto and the approval recently given by the Bauchi state executive council, His Excellency, Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar has flagged off the Bauchi urban revival program with the dualisation, rehabilitation and construction of some selected roads within Bauchi, Azare and Misau metropolis with assurance for completion within 18 to 24 months.
Flagging of the construction project in Bauchi, Governor Mohammed Abubakar lamented that most roads in Bauchi State are in bad condition “due to many years of neglect,” some of which have not been renovated since second republic when they were constructed while many new settlements have sprung up in the State owing to migration of people from other parts of the country without provision of some basis infrastructures like roads being made.
The governor regretted that in its 40 years of existence as a State, Bauchi cannot compete favourably with some states that were created years after it in the country in terms of availability of good roads adorned with modern streetlights and drainages like modern cities.
He said it was in fulfillment of his campaign promise that the administration has among other things embarked upon rehabilitation and construction of some select roads in the State that will ease vehicular movement, boost agricultural, social and economic activities and reduce accidents.
He said in its quest to develop and modernize all major towns in Bauchi State, the State government is embarking on the construction and rehabilitation of roads as well as the provision of other basic amenities under the State Infrastructural Intervention Project.
“The urban roads revival project of the State government is our strategic response to filling the infrastructural gaps as a result of population growth and expansion of our urban towns and cities, in addition to the pressing need to rehabilitate existing ones,” he said.
Among other things, the governor said his administration has embarked on the construction, dualisation and rehabilitation in order to expand some of the roads leading into the State capital in order to create easy access especially those linking housing estates and institutions of higher learning.
Governor Abubakar said the dualisation of Awalah roundabout to Giwo Science Academy along Bauchi-Kano road, covering 2.5 kilometres was awarded to Rock Bridge Constructions Ltd at the cost of 1.184 billion naira and is to be completed in 18 months.
Also being rehabilitated and constructed in Bauchi metropolis, according to the governor are seven township roads, while the Minister of Information and Culture is expected to be in the State for the flag off of other major township road projects to awarded upon by the State government.
While flagging off the construction and rehabilitation of some township roads in Misau which are to be executed between 12 and 18 months at the cost of 800.8 million naira and awarded to NCEC Nigeria Limited, the governor said one of the “indices that are used to measure progress and development of modern towns and cities is the number of motorable roads it has.”
Flagging off the dualisation and construction works in Azare, the governor said “Jama’are road is one of the busiest roads in this area and is strategically located as it serves as a link to many towns and villages. The dualisation of this road will therefore increase the level of activities and make traveling less cumbersome. The rehabilitation of Sule Katagum road in Azare town is equally important as it is one of the major roads in Azare.”
The dualisation of the 5 kilometre Jama’are road in Azare starts from NITEL roundabout to Kano/Maiduguri bypass, while the rehabilitation of the 1.6 kilometres Sule Katagum road also in Azare starts from NITEL roundabout to the College of Education Staff School.
The two roads are to be executed at the cost of 2.4 billion naira and are awarded to AG Vision Nigeria LTD to be executed within 18 months.
He said “dualisation and rehabilitation of our roads have become imperative considering the rapid expansion of our towns and the popular explosion in our major towns” and added that the benefits of the dualisation and rehabilitation of these roads are enormous and give beauty to towns and make travel easy by reducing the rate of accidents, in addition to easing transportation of goods and services.
Governor Abubakar assured that “good roads are vital for the growth and development of any community as they guarantee easy access to the people and improve their socioeconomic wellbeing.”
When completed, the governor said the road projects will increase agricultural and trading activities and reduce the level of poverty and unemployment in the society and warned the construction companies handling the works that government will not accept any delay in completing the works or adherence to job specifications and called on the people to make good use of the roads and take care of the drainages.
Governor Mohammed Abubakar assured that second phase of road constructions and rehabilitation under the Bauchi revival project will soon be rolled out and noted roads are the “beginning of our infrastructural development in order to uplift the living standard of our people.”
