By Daniel Tyokua
The Minister of Works and Housing Mr Babatunde Fashola has inspected the ongoing 21 federal roads project in and around Kano state, North West region of the country.
Fashola who expressed satisfaction over the level of work done so far, said the success being recorded in road and housing sectors was as a result of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration’s interest in providing infrastructure that will impact on the well-being of the people.
He said the 21 road projects totalling about 960 kilometres were being undertaken at the Federal Government level in and around Kano state.
Fashola said, ” At the moment we are undertaking 21 roads projects at the Federal Government level in and around Kano State totalling about 960 kilometres and some of the more famous ones are: Kano – Abuja Highway, Kano – Katsina, Kano – Maiduguri and a host of others.”
The Minister also disclosed that his Ministry has completed Phases 1 and 2 of the National Housing Programme in Kano State and had proceeded to Phase 3.
According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari had given the approval for the handing over of the houses to members of the public and the exercise will be conducted by the Minsters from the various states on behalf of the President.
The Minister expressed deep appreciation for the cooperation given to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing by the Kano State Government, and called on the members of the State Cabinet to encourage the indigenes and residents of Kano to subscribe to the housing units through the portal that had been opened for interested home applicants.
On his part, Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje who was visibly pleased by the visit of Mr. Fashola, acknowledged the massive Infrastructural development undertaken by the Federal Government in the State in the road, housing, railway and aviation sectors.
He listed the railway network connecting Lagos – Ibadan – Kaduna – Kano, the ones between Kano Jibia and Maradi, Kano – Dutse and the substation at Kazaure in addition to the road projects executed as well as the work on the international wing of the Aminu Kano international airport which he described as comparable to those in world capitals as some of the ways in which the Buhari administration had impacted positively on Kano state.
Ganduje said, ” Mr. President is making Kano not only the commercial nerve centre of the northern part of the country, but the commercial nerve centre of some West African Countries.”
He hinted that the State Government would soon introduce a mass transit system and requested the Federal Government for lay byes and bus stops along some major roads in the State.
The Governor also disclosed that the State Government had earmarked the sum of 2 billion naira for the establishment of weigh bridges in the three main entrances to the State in order to protect the roads within the metropolitan city of Kano and therefore sought the approval from the Federal Government to execute the project.
