Bauchi State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, on Thursday commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its numerous legacy projects across the nation but urged the inclusion of the North-East subregion in the scheme.
A few days ago, the Governor publicly criticized the policies of the APC-led Federal Government, which he said had brought untold hardship to Nigerians, leading to the recent nationwide protest against bad governance tagged #EndBadGovernmentinNigeria.
The Governor, however, made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to extend its Legacy Roads projects to the North-East subregion in order to connect the area to the rest of the country and unlock its vast potential for development.
Bala Mohammed made these remarks while receiving the Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, at the Government House in Bauchi on a courtesy visit, before embarking on an inspection of damaged portions of Federal highways in the state.
The Governor emphasized the importance of infrastructure development in driving economic growth and prosperity for both the nation and the state. He stressed that policies and programs at all levels of government must address the challenges facing the people. He expressed his respect for the federal government and President Bola Tinubu, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to drive development.
Bala Mohammed appreciated the Minister’s visit and the Federal Government’s prompt response, emphasizing the need for federal intervention in road infrastructure development to drive sustainable growth in the North-East subregion.
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He urged the Federal Government to prioritize completing the Akwanga-Gombe dual carriageway, which links the North-Central and North-East subregions.
He lauded the Minister’s timely response to fixing abandoned road projects across the country and urged for more synergy between the Federal and State Governments to accelerate development.
The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, saluted the state government’s efforts, reassuring that all abandoned road contracts would be revisited, with contractors either returning to the site or facing contract revocation. The Minister also praised the Governor for his numerous developmental projects across the state and sympathized with him over the recent flooding that claimed lives and destroyed properties, including roads.
He commended the state government’s swift intervention in repairing damaged Federal roads, thereby alleviating the suffering of commuters. Dave Umahi added that this move is expected to inject new life into stalled projects, boosting economic activities and connecting communities.
The Minister assured that the Federal Government’s response will be crucial in unlocking the region’s potential, fostering economic growth, and enhancing the quality of life for its people. He stressed that the visit was directed by President Bola Tinubu to assess the damages and find solutions to the persistent problems across the state.
He assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed him to assess and address the infrastructural challenges facing the North-East subregion. Contractors mobilized for projects in the subregion must return to the site immediately, and the Federal Government is committed to fast-tracking solutions to remedy the situation.
Recall that a devastating flood recently cut off the Kano-Maiduguri Federal Highway at various points in Katagum, Shira, and Jama’are, in addition to other major roads across the state.
