Super Highways: Umahi Woos North Central Govs, Stakeholders Lists Benefits

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

 

The Minister of Works,  Engr Dave Umahi, has said that the proposed Super Highways are not mere road constructions, but an investment which would in the near future rejig the economy of the country.

This is even as he singled out the Cross River-Ebonyi- Benue-Kogi- Nasarawa-Apo Super Highway as a legacy project that has the potentials to positively impact on the economic growth and development of the beneficiary states.

The Works Minister who spoke on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at a North Central stakeholders meeting held in Lafia ,the Nasarawa State capital,  therefore, appealed to the Governors and other opinion leaders from the zone to accord maximum support to the project.

Engr Umahi explained that the purpose of the meeting which had in attendance Governors and major stakeholders from Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States was to solicit their support and understanding for the proposed 477 kms Cross River-Ebonyi-Benue-Nasarawa-Kogi-Apo portions of the Federal Super Highways projects by the Federal Government.

According to him, the Federal Super Highway projects when completed will greatly benefit all Nigerians, especially residents of the host states.

He added that the seriousness attached to the project informed the wide consultations being made with Nigerians, particularly the leaderships of the beneficiary States .

The works Minister assured that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is irrevocably committed to completing all the portions of the Super Highways, including the Lagos-Ondo-Edo–Delta- Bayelsa-Rivers- Akwa Ibom-Cross River-and the Sokoto-Kebbi-Niger-Kwara-Oyo-Ogun-Badagry   Super Highways .

” I request that you buy into it and support Mr President who still has about seven more years to deliver these projects .

“We believe that with these seven years ,these three legacy projects will be delivered” Umahi assured .

Further speaking, the Works Minister assured that the projects have been designed with due attention to high quality and reasonable durability.

According to him ,each of the Super Highways  portion will be reinforced with concrete ,so that they will be able to last up to 50 years before under going any major maintenance works.

” Each of the sections is going to be reinforced with concrete. Each of the sections has six lanes . It also has train tracks . we are using solar street lights.

“The benefits of these legacy projects can not be over emphasised. It is going to be done in concrete. Sokoto-Badagry  end has 53 Dams. Any road properly constructed on concrete ,for the next 50 years ,you will not touch it .

“Lagos-Calabar has a lot of potentials .In fact ,we are aiming at finishing the first section ,which is 47 .7km, by May next year and we will be tolling it immediately”

“Chairman of the North Central Governors Forum and Governor of Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Sule while appreciating the Federal Government for conceiving such audacious projects , also assured of the unalloyed commitment and cooperation of the people of the Zone to the successful completion of the projects.

Governor Sule ,who spoke on behalf of his colleagues and other stakeholders , particularly expressed happiness that a project which for many years had only remained in the pipeline, has today become a reality.