Senate has urged the Federal Government to include the North East in the Super Highway projects while commending President Bola Tinubu for the N4.2 trillion coastal road projects.
The call followed a motion moved to that effect by Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central).
In the motion titled “Federal Government’s Approval of N4.2 Trillion for the Construction of Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road and Other Road Projects Nationwide,” Senator Goje lamented that out of the N4.2 trillion allocated for road projects, only N19 billion was designated for the rehabilitation of two roads in the North East, leaving many others neglected.
“It is imperative to note that in this laudable project, the North – East has only two projects, that is, Yola – Fufore – Gurin Road in Adamawa State (N11.81 Billion); and Lamido Road in Taraba State (N7.68 Billion), out of the approved sum of N4.2 Trillion Naira.
“Apart from these two road projects in the North East, there are several other crucial road networks in dire condition, including the Bauchi–Gombe road, Biu–Gombe road, Potiskum–Gombe road, Darazo–Gombe road, Numan–Jalingo road, Yola–Mubi road, Yola–Michika–Madagali–Gwoza–Bama road, Ngorore–Mayo Belwa–Zing–Jalingo road, Mayo Belwa–Jada–Ganye road, Biu–Gombi–Maranraba road, Biu–Damboa–Maiduguri road, and Biu–Damaturu road, among others. These roads urgently require major reconstruction and rehabilitation.”
The North-East is the only Zone that was not connected to the SUPER HIGHWAY PROJECT, embarked upon by this administration”, he said.
He, however, commended President Tinubu for the Super Highway projects, which, according to him, aim to enhance connectivity by improving road safety and harnessing the vast resources across the country to stimulate economic growth and development and stressed that the North East should also be included.
In broadening the issue, the Senate amended Senator Goje’s second prayer from urging the Federal Government to, as a matter of necessity, approve the rehabilitation of the listed deplorable roads in the North East to urging the Federal Government to, as a matter of necessity, approve the rehabilitation of all deplorable roads across the country.
Cov/ Bashir M
