Works Minister Praises Tinubu For Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway Construction
By Alice Etuka, Abuja
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has once again commended the President for approving funding, as well as providing leadership for the construction of the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway.
This is according to a statement issued by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Works, Mohammed Ahmed on Wednesday.
Ahmed said the Minister gave the commendation during an inspection of a segment of the 258-kilometre, 3-lane Carriageway (Section 2, Phase 2A: CH 120+000-CH 378+000) in Gulumbe, Kebbi State, which represents a significant portion of the 1,068-kilometre Super Highway.
According to Umahi, “this is a true reflection of Mr. President’s stance that every region of this country matters, and no region should be left behind or shortchanged”.
He noted that the idea for the Coastal Highway project, which runs from Lagos to Calabar, originated with the President during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, nearly twenty-five years ago, describing it as a dream come true.
Addressing a negative narrative circulating on social media, which he referred to as “darkening counsel without knowledge,” the Minister reaffirmed that the four (4) Legacy Road Projects initiated by the President encompassed all six geopolitical zones of the country. He further clarified that when aggregated, the Northern zones account for 52% of them.
In his address, the Governor of Kebbi State, Dr. Nasir Idris expressed his gratitude to the President for his support and the numerous projects being executed in the state. He emphasised that the inspection underscored the Administration’s commitment to improving infrastructure and transportation as vital enablers of growth, as outlined in the eight-point Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, and former Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu remarked, “As we all know, the world is no longer building infrastructure solely through government funding but exploring innovative financing models. Mr. President, having invested in relationships, both in Nigeria and abroad, finds it easier to engage individuals and partners willing to contribute to funding these massive endeavours.”
On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Olufunsho Adebiyi, welcomed dignitaries to the project site and promised, “By the time you are here again, you will see it at a different level.”
Also present during the inspection tour was a former Governor of Kebbi State, H.E. (Sen.) Usman Dakingari; Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Usman Ankwai; SSA-P on Community Engagement for the North West Zone, Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai; SSG of Kebbi State, Alh. Yakubu Bala Tafida; Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Abdullahi Umar Farouk; MD/CEO of Hitech Africa Construction Limited, Mr. Dany Abboud, amongst others.
