By Daniel Tyokua
The federal government at the weekend warned road users against abuses but to heed to the highway code across the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari stated this during the official inauguration and handover of the completed section I phase II and section II phase I of the Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari road in Yobe state.
He said his administration was committed to infrastructure development in the 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Buhari was represented at the event by the Minister of Power, Engr Abubakar Aliyu.
He explained that his commitment to infrastructure development was already yielding results.
“Our commitment to improving road transport infrastructure, our determination to improve the ease of doing business, create jobs and prosperity to lift people out of poverty brings us here today because the results of our investment are manifesting,” he said.
Accordingly, he explained that the road has been built to the highest quality of design and workmanship and if well used and not abused, it should last for the designed service life
While assuring Nigerians about the desire of his administration to complete all ongoing projects, President Buhari said “I can confidently say that as we enter the final lap of the tenure of the Buhari administration we are also entering a season of completion and delivery of projects.”
“Now that we have this new and well-built road, we have duties to ourselves and to other road users and one of those duties is to ensure that we drive in accordance with the law as stipulated in the Highway Code.”
He listed the road abuses to include: overloading of vehicles which accelerates pavement damage; spilling of petroleum products, which dissolves all the components and allows water to penetrate, and converting the road shoulders to permanent parking places, that brings the onset of road failure from the shoulder.
” Nigerian citizens should do their best to avoid these practices, and to report them when they occur and also act in a lawful manner to stop them” he said
In his remarks, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola represented by the Director Highways, North-East, Engr Celestine Shawusu, said that the projects represent major investment in road Transport infrastructure, which was a commitment of the Buhari administration as a driver for economic growth and prosperity.
He explained that the projects were visible and incontrovertible assets in proof of what Nigeria’s resources are invested in, from a combination of our earned resources, and borrowings.
Fashola also acknowledged and commended the commitment of the President and his Vice, the professionalism of staff of the Ministry in the delivering of the projects and the support of Ministers in the Federal Executive Council and the members of the National Assembly, especially the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Works in the 8th and 9th Assembly for their support.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, represented by the Yobe State Federal Controller of Works, Engr O.B. Akinmade, said that the administration of President Muhamadu Buhari has focused it’s attention on the completion of several on-going projects to stimulate economic development, create jobs and promote local content.
He explained that it was part of
the developmental agenda of the administration in addressing road infrastructural development of Nigeria,
“ The focus is to link the major arterial roads to refineries, ports, tertiary institution s and high volume commercial centers with a view to reducing travel times, vehicle maintenance costs, safety and security of commuters.” he said.
