House of Representatives has called on the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to immediately direct the contractor handling the Kaduna-Abuja highway to complete the project by the first quarter of 2024.
This followed a motion by a member from Kaduna Malam Muhammad Bello El-Rufa’i, adopted by the house during a plenary session.
Malam Bello El-Rufa’i, explained that the road project awarded since 2017, was to be completed within 36 months from inception, according to the contract agreement had now lingered for over 5 years with no ascertainable completion date in the short term.
He also recalled that sometime in December 2022, former Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, stated that the slow pace in reconstruction was due to the quality of work being done but assured of completion and commission of the project by the first quarter of 2023.
He expressed worried that non completion of the project by the contractor had affected the economic well-being and security of people of Kaduna, Niger and Kano States and Nigerians and would continue to be at great risk to northern region.
The lawmaker maintained that to fastrack the completion of the project, Federal Executive Council in March 2021 reviewed the contract sum from155 billion to 797 billion naira to provide for full reconstruction of main carriageway, trailer parks, bridges, toll stations and additional side lanes in the built-up areas across the FCT, Niger, Kaduna and Kano States.
Malam Bello El-Rufa’i, further noted that the Abuja Kaduna Kano highway which is approximately 375 kilometers length, is a strategic national infrastructure that serves as a major road linking the north to the southern part of the country.
He observed that the alternative means of transportation for citizens travelling from Abuja to Kaduna/Kano was the Abuja -Kaduna train, since it’s suspension March 2022, due bandits attacked killing at least 8 people criminals find it easy to operate and commuters were left at the mercy of murderers.
Adopting the motion the house has mandated the Committees on Works and Legislative Compliance (when constituted) to ensure full implementation of the resolutions.
COV /TSIBIRI
