Umahi Restates Resolve to Put Federal Roads in Good Condition

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, yesterday, reiterated that the federal government was determined to put all roads across the country  in good condition in order to ameliorate the suffering faced by citizens during rainy season.

Umahi, made this known when inspecting the Abuja – Koton-Karfe – Lokoja road, Lokoja – Okene road and  Ganaja – Ajaokuta road that had become a death trap to motorists since the 2022 flood disaster that destroyed some portion of federal roads in the state.

He was accompanied by Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

He commended Bello for his effort in rehabilitating federal roads across the state.

The minister who assured that the Ganaja – Ajaokuta road would be redesigned to give permanent face lift, promised that a retaining wall would be constructed on the road to permanently prevent flood from destroying it during rainy season.

According to him, flyover would also be constructed on the section of the federal road at Koton-Karfe  destroyed by
flood,

He assured that within two weeks, the redesigning of the roads would be completed and its rehabilitation would commence immediately to fulfil the aspiration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in providing quality roads for Nigerians.

“I have seen the massive work the Kogi State government under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello has done on the very lengthy section of the federal roads in the state. Mr. president is aware of every part of the country that is facing road challenges.

“I am assuring Nigerians that Mr. President came to solve our problems and that was why he directed that I should be on the field to see things for myself with a view to find permanent solutions to the bad condition of our roads especially during this rainy season” he said.

In his remarks, Bello stated that Kogi State serves as a gateway for vehicles moving from the south to the northern parts of the country, expressing concern that since the flooding of 2022, the Ganaja – Ajaokuta road has remained a difficult terrain for trucks and cars coming from the south-south and south-east  to pass to the northern parts of the country.

He stated that the Ganaja – Ajaokuta road does not require just a palliative, noting that the Kogi  state government in the past intervened to make the road passable, but to no avail. He appealed to the federal government to apply a permanent solution on the road to end perennial suffering of motorists during rainy seasons.