The Federal Government has constructed 974 roads covering 13,000km nationwide in six years the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Housing, Dr Babangida Hussaini has indicated.
Hussain told our reporter that the projects were part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign promises towards boosting socio-economic activities in the country.
According to him, despite the current economic hiccups, the government was able to embark on capital projects in addition to rehabilitation of thousands of roads worth hundreds of billions of naira in the six-geopolitical zones.
Hussain explained that the projects passed through the rigours of due process before approval hence they are of high standard.
The permanent secretary explained further that the ongoing construction of hybrid Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road would be inaugurated in March 2022, while the Shuwarin-Azare road with interchange bridge had been handed over to Jigawa state government.
He explained that other roads under the first and second phases include the busiest Lagos-Ibadan awarded to Julius Berger and RCC which has reached 70% completion while the delay in the completion of Kano-Katsina road was as a result of compensation payment, removal of electrical poles.
He also noted that notwithstanding the activities they have achieved appreciable progress.
The Permanent Secretary revealed that plans are at advanced stage to install solar powered street lights at Dawanau market by the Federal government to boost commercial activities and enhance security around the market, stressing that on completion the market would have capacity to operate 24/7.
According to him, “Despite Covid-19 pandemic and banditry that caused some difficulties in some of the projects, government has sustained efforts to deliver infrastructural developmental projects across the country”.
He indicated that the sum of N362billion had been earmarked for the SUKUK Funded road projects across the six geo-political zones from 2018-2021.
He added that, the sum of N250bn is expected to be expended in 2022 for the SUKUK funded project including the Federal Capital Development Authority and Ministry of Niger Delta as beneficiaries of the project.