ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi
Bauchi State Goverment will spend N13,612,797,248 to construct four roads totalling 27.45 kilometers in the state as part of its Urban Renewal Development Project.
The construction of the four roads were flagged-off by the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, and the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal on Wednesday, in Bauchi.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that the roads to be constructed are the dualization from Giwo Science Academy – Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport (17.7kms) and the dualization of Awala Roundabout – Bauchi State University (7kms), all federal roads were flagged-off by Secondus.
The other projects are the dualization of Sam Njoma Road from Dogon Yaro – Zaranda Hotel (1.95kms) and the Reconstruction of Adamu Jumba Road from Mobil Filing Station – Fire Service Junction were flagge-off by Governor Tambuwal.
Secondus while flagging-off the two roads, commended Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, for his efforts in turning around the fortunes of the state and providing dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
According to him, the roads being flagged-off will have a great impact they on the people and will raise the standard of living of the people through the urban renewal, the massive transformation that will come thereafter.
“Today’s projects show clearly that you believe in the people that have you the mandate because you make promises and today is the fulfilment of part if that promise.
“I salute your courage. This is how leaders across this nation should behave starting from the national to the state level and to the local government levels. Power given, comes from God and you must show humility to to those who gave you the mandate and without the people, you cannot be here as a Governor.
“When these roads, the dualization are completed, in the northeast zone, Bauchi will take its proper place of the center of business activities, not only the center, but it will be the hub of International flights because without it, you cannot be given the international airport status,” he stated.
He added: “We commend you for this dualization projects, the Nigerian Air Force, the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, and the State University are all located on these roads. All the people around these areas and on the road leading to the Airport, will have the full benefit and enjoy good roads. The governor is impacting directly on the lives of the people.”
Also speaking while flagging-off the other two roads, Tambuwal, the Sokoto State governor and Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, described the roads as “life-touching and life-saving.”
He said: “I congratulate my brother, the governor for this great milestone we are celebrating today and I believe he will leave indelible marks in Bauchi State. I also convey the sincere commendations of the PDP Governor’s Forum to our performing governor as one of our best and Bauchi is lucky to have him.”
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, in his speech, lamented that Bauchi as a state capital, is lagging far behind in terms of infrastructure development compared with its contemporaries created in 1976.
He added that even states that were created many years after Bauchi including Gombe, carved out of the state, have all gone far ahead of the state in terms of development pointing out that the massive urban development his administration embarked upon in order to turn around the fortune of Bauchi.
The governor disclosed that the administration is not performing any magic to get funding for all the capital projects embarked upon saving, “all we are doing is being prudent in our expenditures, we avoid frivolous and extravagant spending as well as try to jerk up our IGR”.
He explained that his administration contacted and got approval from the Federal Ministry of Works through the Department of Federal Highways to be able to embark on the projects because according to him, “it is for the good of the citizens of the state. The projects are to cost over N13.6 billion and will be completed within the next 24 dry months”.
Mohammed reiterated the commitment of his administration to continue to embark on people oriented projects and programmes declaring that every sector of the state will be touched before the end of his tenure.
He then Commended the State House of Assembly for supporting his administration in spite of the political differences between them assuring that he will not betray the trust reposted in him by the people of the state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner of Works and Transport, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, said that the roads will be completed within 24 months.
“Indeed, infrastructure, construction and rehabilitation have now become a Hallmark of the administration of Senatir Bala Mohammed in Bauchi State.
“The administration hit the ground running by constructing highly sought-after state roads covering three Senatorial Districts in the State in the first 100 days of this administration,” he said.
Ibrahim said that the Ministry of Works and Transport, carefully selected, within the ambits of relevant laws and guidelines, competent contractors to execute the projects.
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, in a remark, reassured then Governor that “we are ready to support you and we will always support you.”
He said that in spite of the political party differences among members who are APC majority and the Governor who is of PDP, the legislative arm is always in the support of developmental aspiration of the Governor.
He said that, “we have 21 APC members, 9 PDP members and 1 NNPP member all working together to support the PDP led administration because our focus is the state not an individual or political party. Let me assure you that even these projects, the House of Assembly legislated for them”.
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