By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
Former Nigeria’s Senate President, David Mark, on Tuesday, flagged-off the construction of 36.3 kilometers roads in Bauchi State with the three roads costing N7,348,963,784.
The roads are: Warji-Gwaram road – 13.5, Boi-Tapshin road – 11.6kms and Bogoro-Lusa-Malar road 11.2km.
Speaking while flagging-off the roads, Senator Mark, said that if democracy is to thrive in the country, government must prioritize the welfare of its citizens and also include them in governance.
The two-term Senate President, commended Bauchi State Governor, for embarking on construction of roads particularly rural roads.
He urging the governor to do more until all rural communities are linked up to development pointing out that opening up the rural areas will bring development closer to the people.
Bauchi State governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, in his speech said that the road construction projects awarded were carefully selected in furtherance of the resolve of his administration to deliver a well thought out project to the people.
He said that 30 percent of the total contract sum had already been released to the contractor handling the three projects after the advanced payment certificate had been received by the government.
Mohammed added that the contractor, Habibu Engineering Limited, has 24 dry months within which to complete the projects.
“The roads were are flagging-off today are Warji-Gwaram road which is 13.5 kilometers. The road links Bauchi State with neighbouring at the border which is just 5 kilometers from Gwaram town headquarters of Gwaram local government area of Jigawa State.
“It will be constructed on 7.3 meters carriage way, 1.5 meters shoulders, 12 box culverts and nine pipe culverts.
“Packaged in the same contract is a major framework of drainage to solve ecological problems that have bedeviled a village called Katanga in Warji local government area. It has also been bedeviled with flooding and by the grace of God, after this project is executed, they will heave a sigh of relief because this will be a thing of the past.
“The second road is Boi-Tapshin road which is 11.6 kilometers. This road is a major link between the two communities and towns with the local government headquarters and other parts of the state.
“It will be constructed with a standard dual carriage way of 7.3 meters, shoulders of 1.5 meters with 5 box culverts and 12 pipe culverts to be constructed along with earth drains. The pavement will be double coated with surface dressing,” he said.
The governor added that: “The third road is Bogoro-Lusa-Malar is 11.2 kilometers. This road basically has the same design with Boi-Tapshin road and it will have the same features of 12 box culverts and 12 pipe culverts and with pavements.
“The contract for the construction of these roads have been awarded the Messrs Habibu Engineering Limited at the contract sum of N7,348,963,784 with a completion period of 24 dry months. I have already released 30 percent down payment after we secured an advanced payment certificate.”
Governor Mohammed said that roads are pivotal to development because accessibility is key to effective governance the more reason his administration has embarked on massive construction of roads across the state.
He added that the priority of his administration is to change the perspective of governance in the state in order to make it rank among its contemporaries in the country.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Commissioner of Works and Transport in the state, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, said that roads are a measure of the development of any area stressing that without good access road a state cannot be regarded as developed.
According to him, so far since the Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir led administration came on board, 10 roads spread across the state had been completed while 19 others are at various stages of construction with the aim of opening up the rural areas for grassroots development.
Chairman, Bauchi State House of Assembly Committee on Works, Yusuf Dadiye stated that the Legislative arm is proud to be associated with the Executive arm because according to him what they want is development and the executive is doing well in that area.
He said that they were surprised to see that 23 different roads are being construed across the state within a short period assuring that the Assembly will continue to collaborate with the executive.
Chairman of Warji Local Government Council, Adamu Mohammed Danjumai commended the construction of the road which he said will further connect the area to the rest of the Northern part of the state as well as neighbouring states of Kano and Jigawa.