Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has commended President Mohammadu Buhari for completing one of the legacy roads his administration inherited, the Sokoto-Tambuwal-Gwandu-Aliero-Jega-Yawuri-Kotongora road.
The governor gave the commendation over the weekend when the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Abubakar Aliyu, paid him a courtesy visit.
“The road is one of the most important roads. Not only does it link other states with the Federal Capital Territory, but it is the main gateway to Lagos,” he said.
“I remember in 2015 when we came in before the completion of the road, whenever we were having a security council meeting, it was a nightmare for the Emir of Yauri to come; but today, he even looks forward to coming for the meetings.”
Baudu commended the efforts of the ministry that made it possible for Mr. President to complete the road, saying that it was one of the numerous uncompleted roads that were inherited by the Buhari administration.
Speaking on the importance of the road, the Commissioner for Works and Transportation, Alhaji Chika Ladan, commended President Buhari, saying that it (completion of the road) had saved road users more travelling time.
“Traveling from Yauri to Birnin Kebbi used to take about five hours, but today, it takes less than two hours on the same road,” he said.
The Minister, who was in the state to verify the claims of refund on the federal government roads undertaken by the state government, said that out of the total distance of roads in the country, about 34,000 kilometers are under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
“Out of the 34,000 kilometers, we are currently working on over 13,000 kilometers simultaneously with over 800 contracts currently going on all over the country, covering all the six geo-political zones” he added.
“The long distance Sokoto-Tambuwa-Gwandu-Aliero-Jega-Yawuri-Kontogora road is divided into two sections. The Kebbi section of the road is about 171km with an origin at Jega township roundabout with a standard 7.3m carriageway.
“The Sokoto section is about 133km with additional 8.0km bye pass and it originated from Sokoto Airport roundabout through South West direction passing through Bodinga-Shagari-Tanbuwal, Aliero and terminates in Jega town at the Birnin Kebbi-Koko roundabout.
“The overall percentage completion of works to date is 100 per cent in the Sokoto section and 99.94 per cent in the Kebbi State section respectively,” he added.
