FG reaffirms commitment to Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, threatens errant contractors with EFCC, ICPC
FG reaffirms commitment to Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, threatens errant contractors with EFCC, ICPC
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
The Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Muhammad Goronyo, has reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to the successful completion of the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway.
He described the project as a major strategic infrastructure development that would enhance transportation and connectivity, facilitate trade and open up new economic opportunities across the country.
The Minister also threatened to hand over any errant contractor to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) if they fail to mobilize back to all abandoned road projects sites across Nigeria.
Barrister Goronyo addressed newsmen on Thursday in Sokoto shortly after commissioning and handing over ten brand new Hilux vans donated to the 8 Division, Nigerian Army, to bolster security at the ongoing Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway being constructed by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, himself and the Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, had on Wednesday met with all the affected contractors and directed them to return to the various sites across the country.
“Any contractor handling any project under the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme must go to their sites and commence work immediately.
“If they fail to do that, we have no option than to hand them over to the EFCC and ICPC for them to recoup the money as it belongs to Nigerians.
“This money doesn’t belong to us or them, but to the entire Nigerians and it must be returned if they fail to deliver their various projects,” he said.
Barrister Goronyo further noted the significant improvement in the condition of the Abuja-Kaduna highway, saying, “it is now covered in barely two hours as against the four to five hours hitherto.”
The Minister maintained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was unwaveringly committed to completing all the uncompleted and abandoned projects he inherited from the previous administrations.
He averred that, in the history of Nigeria, no administration has been totally committed to providing infrastructure, including roads, like that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Barrister Goronyo further stated that the administration would complete the ongoing reconstruction of the Sokoto-Zaria federal highway, as well as several hundreds of others across Nigeria.
The Minister also cited the ongoing construction of the Kaduna-Kano-Daura-Maradi rail line, as well as the Metro Rail lines in Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt, among others.
He assured that they will all be completed to further bolster the economy of the country, adding, “Like President Tinubu, like Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, they are ramping up the infrastructural development of Nigeria and Sokoto State.”
