The Minister of State for Works and Housing, Mr. Mu’azu Jaji Sambo has hinted that 3 billion naira from year 2022 Sukuk fund would be used for the construction of Numan- Jalingo Road in Adamawa and Taraba states.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Stephen Kilebi on Saturday May 7, 2022.
Acccording to the statement, the Minister gave the hint during a working tour to the rehabilitation of the road and other road projects in Taraba and Adamawa States.
He said, “The 103 kilometre Numan- Jalingo road is part of the Maiduguri –Calabar Highway.The section of the road that is not motorable is not acceptable.The road is the only connection between the North and South on the North Eastern axis of the country.”
He added that once the Sukuk fund is accessed, there would be remarkable progress at the construction site.
Sambo said the people of Taraba State are very appreciative and delighted with the 80 housing units commissioned in Taraba State this week by President Muhammadu Buhari and they are very calm and happy with the ongoing works on township roads in Jalingo.
The township roads: Hassan,Yelwa and DSS are three critical roads in Jalingo which have defied all the civilians administrations in Taraba State since 1999.
Sambo said that the successful works on the internal roads in Jalingo, the Taraba State Capital has given the people the hope that this current administration is capable of delivering the Numan -Jalingo Road.
He remarked that he wouldn’t blame the contractor for the slow pace of work, saying it was due to the insufficient budgetary provision in the past and covid -19 pandemic that affected the progress of work.
He said, however, with the current improved funding provision the contractor was expected to service its equipment and be more serious on the construction work.
He added that if the company was found not to have the capacity to complete the job, government would not hesitate to terminate the contract and re-award it to a competent one.
While briefing the Honourable Minister on the progress of work on the Numan- Jalingo Road Project, a Senior Civil Engineer at the site, Engr. Maria Kenneth Zirrah representative of the Federal Controller of Works Adamawa State said insecurity, lack of construction materials and funding were responsible for the slow pace of work on the road project.
The Project Engineer of Deux Project Limited, the contractor for the Numan-Jalingo Road Project, Engr. Frank Koshihuk who spoke on behalf of the contractor said inflation, funding, insecurity were the major challenges on the construction of the road project.
He promised that as soon as the funding pattern for the rehabilation works improved, the work would be completed within 8months .
The Minister of State also inspected the construction of Zing –Yakoko-Monkin Road in Taraba State during his 2-day working inspection visit.
