The Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Saturday, met governors and stakeholders from Nasarawa, Benue, and Kogi states, seeking their support for the smooth execution of the 477-kilometre Cross River-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-Apo superhighway project.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, Umahi explained that the project was beyond road construction but an investment that would serve as a catalyst geared towards economic revival.
The minister identified the proposed Cross River-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-Apo superhighway as a legacy project of the present administration, which would bring a lot of benefits to all Nigerians, particularly to the residents of the benefiting states.
He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to ensuring the completion of the Lagos-Ondo-Edo-Delta-Bayelsa-Rivers-Akwa Ibom-Cross Rivers, and the Sokoto-Kebbi-Niger-Kwara-Oyo-Ogun-Badagry superhighways.
“There are a lot of benefits because of these three superhighways. I want to assure you that this is beyond road construction, but it is an investment. This is because it is a catalyst that will revive the country’s entire economy.
“I request that you buy into it and support Mr. President who still has seven more years to deliver these projects. We believe that with these seven years, these three legacy projects shall be delivered,” Umahi said.
The Minister further disclosed that all the road projects would be reinforced with concrete to enable them to last up to 50 years before any maintenance is required.
“Each of these sections is going to be on reinforced concrete. Each of these sections has six lanes. It also has a train track. We are also using solar streetlights.
“The benefits of these three legacy projects cannot be overemphasised. It is going to be done in concrete. Sokoto-Badagry has 53 dams in that section. Any road properly constructed on concrete, for the next 50 years, you will not touch it. Lagos-Calabar has a lot of potential. We are aiming at finishing the first section, 47.7 km, by May next year and we will be tolling it immediately,” he explained.
The Minister further informed the governors and other North Central stakeholders at the meeting that the Federal Executive Council had directed that federal government projects spread across states that have remained uncompleted for a long time should be determined and prioritised.
On their part, governors of the North Central geopolitical zone, as well as critical stakeholders, particularly those of Nasarawa, Benue, and Kogi States, commended President Bola Tinubu for conceiving the idea of the Renewed Hope Legacy Infrastructure Project.
Speaking for the governors and other stakeholders, the Chairman of the North Central Governors Forum and incumbent Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, thanked the federal government for embarking on such iconic projects that had been in the pipeline for decades, while expressing their commitment towards giving adequate cooperation for the success of the FG’s superhighway.
“Let me sincerely appreciate Mr. President for this iconic project. Iconic in the sense that this is a project that has been in the pipeline before some of us were born. Indeed, today, we are seeing the realities of these road projects,” Sule said.
Governor Sule showered encomium on all the stakeholders, governors, and members of the National Assembly who took their time to be in attendance at the meeting and urged them to ensure that the needed cooperation is given to the Federal Ministry of Works on the construction of the superhighway and other projects in the North Central region.
Our correspondent reports that the Cross River-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-Apo superhighway, which would be an offshoot of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, is expected to cover a total of 477 kilometres, among which the affected states in the North Central region would be 284 kilometres.
On the proposed new road, Nasarawa State has 95 kilometres; Kogi State, 111 km; Benue State, 66 km; while the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has 12 km.