Senator Sumaila mourns victims of Wudil accident

By Iyojo Ameh

Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila has sympathised with families of the 11 persons who lost their lives in an auto crash along Kano-Maiduguri federal Highway on Friday.

In a statement he personally signed, Senator Sumaila expresses grief over the demise of the 11 people, regretting that Kano-Maiduguri road has remained a death trap to many road users.

The over 550 kilometre dualization project was awarded by the Federal Government at the end of the second tenure of the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Senator Sumaila explains that the importance of this road to Nigerian economy cannot be over empathise as the international linked Nigeria with Chad republic, Cameroon, Niger republic and the Central Africa, thereby boosting businesses among the affected countries.

He also said that the road which also onnected Kano with Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe and Borno states, is playing a greater role in the economic activities of the states.

Senator Sumaila, however, laments that despite its important, the road has claimed several lives due to non-completion of the project.

He said for almost 17 years since the award of the project, a portion of the road particularly from Wudil to Gaya has not been completed.

He said it is regrettable that although over 50 kilometers of this portion of the road have been completed, however, a distance of less than 30 kilometers of the portion has not been completed, thereby, causing accidents among motorists.

Sumaila, regretted that the non-completion of the project has compelled traders from within within Nigeria and the neighbouring countries to divert their businesses to other states other than Kano.

“Apart from cases of accident, armed robbery has been taken place on this road for several years. I have personally complained to the relevant authorities, yet, the problem persist,” he said.

“It is very sad that the Federal ministry of works and housing and the contractor handling the project have failed to complete this project despite allocation of huge amount of money in the budget. I will continue to pursue for the completion of this road.”

Senator Sumaila lamented that “This is the reason why we are fighting for fairness in the budgetary allocations to the six geopolitical zones, but some people for their selfish interests are kicking against our moves.

“With enough budgetary allocations to the geopolitical zones, this kind of projects would have been finished in time. It is our duty as members of the National Assembly to channel the plights and yearnings of our constituents to the executive arm of government in order to do the right thing to improve their wellbeings.

“And one of the surest way to achieve that is to ensure fairness and equality in budgetary allocations. This is the only way projects that have direct bearing to the lives of the common man will be executed. Kano-Maiduguri, is one of the roade that is playing significant roles in the wellbeing of many Nigerians, therefore, the federal government should not joke with it.

The senator, therefore, appealed to the Federal ministry of works and housing and the contractor handling the project to ensure completion of the road in order to save the lives of the people.