FG Reaffirms Commitment to Completing Abuja-Kaduna Road by 2024

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has reassured Nigerians of the commitment of the federal government to complete the Abuja–Kaduna dual carriageway by 2024.

Umahi, who disclosed this while speaking during the  inspection of the highway, said the inspection as directed was to get first-hand information and examine  the challenges involved in the construction of the road and other roads to be visited soon.

The section 1 of the highway which is 165.5km is part of the 375.4 kilometre Abuja-Kaduna –Zaria-Kano project awarded to  Julius Berger Nigeria in 2018 by the previous  administration, but is yet to be completed like other sections of the road due to insecurity and criminal activities.

“I have observed that there is an issue with the design. I’m directing the Director of Geo-Technics Material and Quality Control of the ministry of works. He must come and run figures with me with the project consultant,” he said.

Umahi emphasised the need to quicken  the approval process of payments for contractors and not make  them go to site when payments have not been made to them.

“Again I have asked the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, (NSIA), to run me figures. Let me know how much money they want to give in every month for this project because there is a limit you can push the contractor if you don’t have funding for him,” he further said.

Responding, the Project Manager, Julius Berger Nigeria Ltd, represented by Dwsdowki Finn, pledged to do their best to maintain the standard and deliver the project on schedule.

Meanwhile, Umahi CON has assured contractors working with the ministry that there is no cause for worry as long as they  deliver on their projects. He gave   the assurance during at the headquarters of the ministry with contractors handling projects in the North-west zone. 

He reiterated the need to embrace concrete roads and wondered why some contractors were not in support of it, despite its great  advantage over asphalt, in terms of cost and durability.