President Bola Tinubu , on Thursday, flagged off the construction of the 1,068km section 1 phase 1A 3 Lane single carriageway Sokoto-Badagry superhighway in Illela local government of Sokoto State.
Tinubu, who was represented at the event by Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu, assured of adequate security for the project.
The President said the 1,068km road when completed, will add value to the economy of the region and all states covered by the project.
In his welcome address, Sokoto State Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Works, Engr Idris Gobir said history is made in Sokoto, hence the project is becoming a reality.
He said, “This project could not have come at a better time than now, hence road construction is one of the greatest ways of ensuring speedy development”.
In a goodwill message, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Aliyu Bagudu, said the the Sokoto-Badagry super highway is a fulfillment of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda which is to build infrastructures capable of putting the nation on the rung of global development.
The minister said, “The President always say, we have a country to believe in and all should work to put the nation in the right spot. He has the desire that we must create and support Nigeria to be a country where all will be proud of.
“This explains why despite the economic challenges, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration is undertaking projects for the development of the nation”.
In his contribution, Senator Adamu Aliero said the road which will pass through 7 states of Sokoto-Kebbi, Niger, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos to Badagry would be a testament to the President’s resolve to make Nigeria great.
Senator Aliero who said the National Assembly will continue to support the President to make Nigeria great, further appealed for the construction of a rail line from Sokoto to Lagos, adding, “the 1068 km road is the first of it’s kind in the entire Northern part of Nigeria””.
Supporting Aliero’s position, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Barinada Mgigi warned the contractor that the era of flagging off project and vanishing into the thin air is gone as they at the Senate must ensure that there is value for money and any project completed as scheduled.
On his part, the Minster of State for Works, Muhammed Bello Goronyo, said the project will reduce the number of hours from Sokoto to Lagos, reduce issues of insecurity and provide employment with multiple economic gains for the states where the road will pass through,
On his part, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, reminded President Bola Tinunu that despite the fact that roads projects are very important, the welfare of Nigerians should equally be considered very seriously.
“It is important for leaders to also see to the welfare of their people.”
On the Sokoto-Badagry road project, the Sultan also stressed that he will personally monitor the project, saying that the Sokoto Zaria Road is equally very important hence bandits are taking advantage of the bad road to kidnap innocent road users.
The Sultan said, “Empower the state governors to ensure that the roads that pass through their states are completed in good time and construction of railway lines through the length and breath of Nigeria will preserve the lifespan of the roads.
Giving the background of the project, Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, said they are in Sokoto to make manifest one of the core legacy projects of President Tinubu.
Noting that the President is committed to completing all inherited projects, David Umahi further stated that the entire legacy super highways with 52 percent in the entire north and 48 in the south will gulp over N13trillion.
Continuing, the works minister said the road project was a dream by the Shehu Shagari administration 48 years ago, and will be completed within
6 years with the 1st stage completion by 2027.
He said, “President Tinubu is using concrete to ensure that any road he construct last for 100 years. The National Security Adviser has also gone ahead to put security architecture in place to ensure that all constructions are executed hitch free.
He further assured that the President Tinubu-led administration is also doing everything possible to complete the Sokoto, Zamfara, Katisna, Kaduna Road soon.
