From Shola Baraye, Ilorin
Stakeholders across Kwara and Niger States have commended President Bola Tinubu for the bold step to construct the 1000-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry superhighway, with Governors AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Umaru Bago calling the project another evidence of the President’s commitment to drive phenomenal socioeconomic growth.
The stakeholders spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, where a stakeholders’ engagement was held to brief the public on the Kwara and Niger Sections of the superhighway as well as rally public support for it and other initiatives of the President.
At least 188 kilometres of the road cut through different Kwara communities, while 125kilomteres of it are on Niger land.
AbdulRazaq said the proposed road project attests to the bold vision of President Tinubu to develop infrastructure, which enhances national connectivity and helps to grow the economy.
“What we are doing this afternoon is another testament to the bold vision of President Tinubu and another evidence that our country is in a race to align development priorities and population growth with commensurate infrastructure that connects every part of Nigeria. But much more important is the decision of the President to make the people the centrepiece of this bold vision,” Governor AbdulRazaq said.
The Governor, who was attending another significant event with the President in the national capital Abuja as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, was represented by the Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi.
“For the avoidance of doubt, 188 kilometres of the road traverse different towns and communities of Kwara State. The socioeconomic implications of this Renewed Hope Infrastructure Project for national connectivity and growth cannot be fully appreciated by this generation,” he added.
Abdulrazaq applauded the Minister of Works Engr. David Umahi for the excellent job of combining the expertise of this critical terrain with the political skills of pushing through the different land mines.
“This conversation has helped our people to own the initiative, and I assure Mr. President and his team that our people will give all the support to see it through,” Abdulrazaq stated.
For his part, Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago urged the people from Kwara and Niger to support the federal government and take ownership of the road projects, saying the (projects) are for their own good.
“We need to talk to our people that the government is not grabbing your land; the federal government is bringing development to you. We are not going to pay one kobo for compensation because it is for your good,” Bago said.
The Governor said locals should support the project because of its accompanying benefits, cautioning communities against disturbing contractors or the government for compensation.
Earlier, the Minister of Works, Engr, David Umahi commended the supportive roles of Governors AbdulRazaq and Bago for the President, said the Ministry has 18 federal projects in Kwara State, saying more efforts will go into some of them that are deemed to be behind their implementation schedules.
“We are going to engage with the Governor, commissioner for works, the federal controller of works, and the ministry, and review the projects and give them priorities,” he added.
“Four projects are ongoing on tax credit with BUA (in Kwara). They have assured me that these projects will be delivered as soon as possible. They are all government’s projects under President Tinubu. They are not social service projects from the company. We are the one funding it under a different funding mechanism.”
“We just came from Kebbi yesterday where we unveiled the Sokoto and Kebbi States segment. In a number of states where this legacy project will be passing through, Kebbi has the highest length of 250km, the second is Kwara State with 188km and the third is Niger State with 125km,” Umahi said.
“The Sokoto-Badagry road has been in the pipeline for the past 48 years. You can imagine the successive administrations that came and left.
