Fed Govt To Commence Works On Sokoto/Badagry 1000 km Super Highway In August

 

From Bayo Samaila, Birnin Kebbi

The Minister of Works, Engineer Nweze David Umahi on Wednesday said the first phase of works on the Sokoto/Badagry 1000 km superhighway project would start from Kebbi State and it would be officially flagged off in kebbi by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August, this year.

While speaking at the stakeholders engagement on alignment for sokoto and Kebbi State first and second phase 378km, part of the 1000 superhighway project at the Presidential Lodge in Birnin Kebbi,the Minister said works on the road project would commence from the 258km section from Kebbi axis.

The 1000 km Badagry/Sokoto superhighway project covers a total of 258km from Kebbi axis while it covers 120km from Sokoto, totalling 378 Km from the northwest axis.

He added that the superhighway will start from Ilela in Sokoto State (120Km) and it will pass through Argungu -Bunza-Kamba in kebbi State and end at Bida in Niger state.

"I requested the people of Kebbi and Sokoto to support this project. Wherever there is need to compensate the people,we would sit down and work things out with the local communities.

"It will benefit the people of the state alot especially in the areas of agriculture, commerce and security", he said.  

The Minister noted that the route of the superhighway was that of the oldest tran-sahara trade which was initiated more than 48 years ago but not implemented until the coming of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration. 

He added that, President Tinubu should be commended for implementing the 48 year old Sokoto/ Badagry road project which he said would be of benefit to not only Nigerians but to the neighbouring countries of Niger Republic, Benin Republic and others. 

Speaking at the stakeholders engagement on the road project, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu said President Tinubu's administration priotize Infrastructure particularly on road,dam and others that will help to achieve development for the country.

He said"The  country is presently confronting it's reality. Some of the economic policies of this administration are new so the government needs understanding and support from the citizens to achieve it's developmental and economic objectives".

Governor Nasiru Idris on his remarks said the president has brought happiness to people of Kebbi State through the superhighway road project. He said the project is a testimony of his believe in the aspirations of people of Nigeria. "Kebbi is an agrian state, famers particularly rice farmers will form clusters around the superhighway for easy transportation of their produce", he said.

Former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal who represented the state at the Kebbi engagement observed that the road project had been there for nearly 50 years. He said it was initiated by former Head of

State, Olusegun Obasanjo and flagged off by late Shehu Shagari's administration. "It's a huge achievement for the Tinubu administration to deliver 1000 km road starting from Ilela In sokoto to Badagry in Lagos", he said.