FG executing 5,500km road projects nationwide – Umahi

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said the Federal Government is executing 5,500 kilometres of new and ongoing road projects across the country, with Niger State accounting for 1,055 kilometres.

He disclosed this on Tuesday during the flag-off of the reconstruction and dualisation of the Lambata-Bida-Mokwa-Makera-Kontagora Federal Highway in Bida, Niger State.

Umahi described the highway project as a major component of President Bola Tinubu’s infrastructure development agenda, noting that its scale, reinforced concrete pavement technology and the involvement of the Dangote Group under the Federal Government’s infrastructure tax-credit scheme could make it the administration’s fifth legacy road project.

He said the project would improve connectivity within Niger State and strengthen links between the North-Central region and other parts of the country.

He added that the government remained committed to improving road infrastructure across all geopolitical zones, disclosing that 162 kilometres of roads and 115 metres of bridges had been completed in the North-Central region.

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He commended the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, for his commitment to infrastructure development, saying the governor had constructed more than 300 kilometres of roads, over five flyovers and an underpass. Umahi praised Bago for prioritising development irrespective of whether roads fell under federal or state government jurisdiction, attributing the infrastructure investments recorded across states to the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration.

In his remarks, the Governor of Niger State, Umaru Bago, described the highway as a major intervention on a strategic transportation route connecting communities and facilitating the movement of people and goods.

He thanked the President for approving major road projects in the state and pledged that Niger State would deliver the highest number of votes nationwide for Tinubu in the next election, citing the Federal Government’s infrastructure investments in the state.