WHY NEXT GOVT WILL COMPLETE ABUJA-KANO HIGHWAY – FASHOLA

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has stated that the present administration will not be able to complete the Abuja-Kaduna section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway due to several challenges encountered in the course of rehabilitation of the road.

In a statement today, Fashola blamed the delay for the completion of the 265km part of the road on criminality and the need to relocate some communities on the road.

He, however, said sections 2 and 3, which are 210 kilometres combined, would be completed and commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari before he leaves office in May.

Speaking during an inspection tour of the highway with Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Fashola stated that work on the first section was ongoing and required collaboration between the ministry and the Federal Capital Territory Minister and the Governors of Niger and Kaduna states whose territories are connected to the road.

He gave the assurance that the section would be completed by the next administration as soon as possible as funding which the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority is providing is readily available.

On his part, Gambari who expressed satisfaction with the work done said, “Both sections 2 and 3 will be completed and ready for commissioning by President Muhammadu Buhari before the end of his administration”.

He disclosed that another legacy project of the President, the 2nd Niger bridge, will also be commissioned by the President before he leaves office