The Federal Government has said the remaining sections of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway will be completed by November, with the ongoing works on the strategic road now estimated to cost N752bn.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday, saying more than 80 per cent of the cost of the two major sections being handled by the present administration had already been paid.

Umahi said the government was also installing solar-powered streetlights along the highway and would deploy what he described as “superhighway guards” to protect the road from vandalism after observing attempts by some people to remove sections of the concrete pavement.

The minister spoke when he was decorated as the Patron of the National Association of Nigerian Students by the leadership of the union at the Ministry of Works headquarters in Abuja.

According to him, the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano route covers 375 kilometres in one direction, translating to 750 kilometres when both carriageways are considered.

He explained that the Federal Government had previously spent more than N200bn on the portion of the road handled by Julius Berger, with the contractor completing 240 kilometres on each carriageway, amounting to 480 kilometres. He said another 140 kilometres, representing 280 kilometres when both carriageways are considered, remained to be completed.

Umahi said the current administration had recorded an unprecedented feat by completing 118 kilometres of the road with concrete pavement within 30 months, while work was continuing on the remaining 164 kilometres, or 82 kilometres on each carriageway. He said the two sections currently being executed by the government were valued at N752bn.

“The Abuja to Kaduna to Zaria to Kano is 375 kilometres by two. 750 kilometers. The President funded part of this project under Julius Berger. We have spent over 200 billion under Julius Berger. They achieved 240 kilometres by two. That’s 480. Remaining 140 kilometres by two. That’s 280 kilometres.

“For the first time, we are able to complete 118 kilometres of Route 118 on concrete pavement within 30 months. Never happened. Never happened. And today we are battling with the remaining 164 kilometres. That’s 82 kilometres by two. Both of these projects are costing us 752 billion under the President.

“Over 80 per cent has been paid. We are believing that by November the entire stretch would have been completed. We are putting solar lights. Every 30 meters, you have four poles. All true. I just came back from Lagos where we inaugurated the coastal guards. We are also going to inaugurate on this Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, Kano. Superhighway guards. Because I saw people digging the concrete to remove roads,” he said.

The minister said the Federal Government was determined to ensure that the huge investment in the highway was protected from vandalism and other acts capable of undermining the road after completion.

He said the proposed guards would complement the government’s infrastructure protection efforts, particularly as the road would serve as a major transport corridor linking the Federal Capital Territory with Kaduna, Zaria and Kano.

Umahi also used the occasion to defend the administration’s spending on infrastructure, arguing that the projects were creating jobs and opening economic opportunities across the country.

He said every major construction site had generated direct and indirect employment, stressing that the infrastructure investments should not be viewed merely as government expenditure. (The PUNCH)

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