Bauchi Begins  Dualisation of  N10.3bn Ningi Federal Road

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The Bauchi State government has flagged off the construction of an 11-kilometer dual road project in Ningi town, Ningi Loca Government Area(LGA) of the state worth the sum of N10.3 billion.

The project is to be executed under the state government infrastructural development initiative aimed at enhancing economic development and improving the quality of life of people.

Inaugurating the project in Ningi at the weekend, the state Governor, Senator Bala Abdukadir Mohammed, said the contract was awarded in view of it strategic importance which serves as a gate way to the commercial city of Kano and other northern parts of the country, noting that the move would also reduce the high rate of accident resulting to loss of lives and properties.

He said that his administration places priority on road development as other forms of development in the state also hinges on road networks.

He added that the contract will  be executed through direct contract award to the Mothercat Nigeria Limited which will be jointly supervised by a team of engineers from the State Ministry of Works and Transport and Federal Ministry of works.

The governor  said that his administration has already received the approval of the federal government for the construction the road, adding that his government wanted the federal government to do it, but his government was too anxious and decided to execute the project.

Governor Mohammed noted that roads are very important component of economic activities not only in the developed world, but also in developed countries, stressing that it facilitates access to employment, education and opportunities for all other productive activities.

The governor said that Ningi emirate and the central zone have been deprived by previous administrations of good road networks, pointing out that his administration is righting  the wrongs and correcting the anomalies in terms of creating engagements, inclusivity and respect for the yearnings and aspirations of every sector of the state.

He said: “As the Chairman of the local government has said that there is so much neglect of the Ningi emirate and it is not that easy for one administration to address them, but I will definitely try my best as the Turaki Ningi.”

“We therefore, hit the ground running on the day one of our first tenure by awarding road projects to a number of reputable road contractors, this particular one that we are doing in Ningi, is in recognition of what the people of Ningi have done to us as PDP, from myself the governor, you voted for me, voted for all those who contested under the PDP.All the elected offices in Ningi emirate were given to the PDP. The only way to say thank you is the dualisation of Ningi town.”

“This road project is a reciprocation of what you have done to us and we will continue to do it and take one aspect of what you need to the other. The project like other numerous project embarked upon by this administration were conceived as a fulfillment of our campaign promises to provide essential infrastructures in order to ameliorate the transportation difficulties by our people who face serious challenges to transport their agricultural produce to the markets.

“By and large, it is expected that in the course of the construction, the project will create direct jobs to engineers, labourers, artisans and indirectly to food vendors, suppliers, transporters and many others in the construction value chain. When the project is completed, it will significantly transform the lives of thousands of residents of the state”

In their separate remarks, the State Commissioner Ministry of Works and Transport, Hon Ibrahim Gambo Galadima and Representative of the contracting firm, Mothercat  Nigeria Limited, highlighted some components of the project to include 7.3 meters carriage way and 2 meters wide shoulder.

Speaking on behalf of the benefiting communities, the Emir of Ningi Alhaji Yunusa Muhammadu Danyaya and the Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ibrahim Zubairu, commended the governor for considering the long awaited project in his rural and urban development initiative, saying that the project was timely considering the fact that the emirate had long desire good road network. The project is to be completed within 18  dry months.