FG to N/ Central governors: We need your cooperation on Cross River-Abuja Highway project

By David Odama

The Minister of Works, David Umahi has seek the collaboration and cooperation of governors and stakeholders from the North Central states comprising Nasarawa, Benue, and Kogi states for the development of the proposed 477-kilometre Cross River-Abuja super-highway.

Speaking at a stakeholders meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Works on the alignment of super-highways for the Renewed Hope Legacy Infrastructure Project, in Lafia, Umahi explained that the project was beyond road construction, but an investment that would propel and increase the nation’s economic.

The Minister identified the proposed Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Abuja super-highway as a legacy project of the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration which would bring several benefits to all Nigerians, particularly to the residents of the affected and benefitting states.

Umahi however re-emphasized the federal government’s commitment to ensuring the completion of the Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers and the Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Badagry highways.

“There are several benefits to be derived from this road project because of these three superhighways. I want to assure you that this is beyond road construction, but it is an investment. This is because it is a catalyst that is going to revive the entire economy of the country.”

He announced that all road projects will undergo reinforcement with concrete to ensure a lifespan of up to 50 years before any maintenance can be effected.

“The benefits of these three legacy projects cannot be overemphasized. It is going to be done in concrete. Sokoto-Badagry has 53 dams in that section. Any road properly constructed on concrete, for the next 50 years, you will not touch it. Lagos-Calabar has a lot of potential. We are aiming at finishing the first section 47.7km by May next year and we will be tolling it immediately,” he explained.

Umahi further informed the Governors and other North Central states stakeholders that the Federal Executive Council had directed that federal government projects spread across states that have remained uncompleted be prioritised. 

On their part, Governors of the North Central geopolitical zone, as well as the critical stakeholders from Nasarawa, Benue and Kogi States, lauded President Bola Tinubu for conceiving the idea of the Renewed Hope Legacy Infrastructure Project.

Speaking on behalf of the Governors and other stakeholders, the Chairman of the North Central Governors Forum and Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule thanked the federal government for coming up with projects such as this describing the federal government as reawaking projects that had been in the pipeline for decades, while expressing their commitment to give adequate cooperation for the success of the FG’s super-highway.

“Let me sincerely appreciate Mr President for this iconic project. Iconic in the sense that this is a project that has been in the pipeline before some of us were born. Indeed, today, we are seeing the realities of these road projects.”

Governor Sule emphasized the importance of providing necessary cooperation to the Federal Ministry of Works for the construction of the superhighway and other projects in the North Central region.