No Region is Marginalised, Northwest, South South Have Highest Road Projects Under Tinubu- FG
The Federal Government has disclosed that the Northwest and South South geopolitical zones have the biggest road projects in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris made the disclosure in press statement issued over the weekend in Abuja.
According to the minister, the Northwest region had so far received the largest allocation of capital projects worth N5.97 trillion, representing over 40% of approvals, while the South South followed with N2.41 trillion; North Central, N1.13 trillion; South West (excluding Lagos), N604 billion; South East, N407 billion; and North East, N400 billion.
Dispelling the insinuation that the government of President Bola Tinubu was favouring the Southwest ahead of other regions, Mr. Idris insisted that the current All Progressives Congress (APC) government has an “uncommon inclusivity” in allocation of national resources.
The minster explained that, the government’s flagship infrastructure projects reflect an even spread. ‘’While the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway traverses the southern corridor, the Sokoto–Badagry superhighway cuts across the north.
He maintained that the “This sense of balance runs through all the major infrastructure projects being implemented today,” he said. Idris revealed that massive interventions were simultaneously underway in roads, bridges, rail and power.
He said that the government, has secured N150 billion and N100 billion for light rail projects in Kano and Kaduna, while metroline projects in Lagos and Ogun are ongoing.
He added that the eastern corridor rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri was also undergoing rehabilitation, alongside the upgrading of over 1,000 primary health care centres across the country.
The minister listed the legacy projects under Tinubu to include the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway (750 km, ongoing in Lagos, Cross River, Akwa Ibom);Sokoto–Badagry superhighway (1,068 km, ongoing in Kebbi and Sokoto);Trans-Sahara highway (465 km, ongoing in Ebonyi) and the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road (439 km, redesigned for durability).
“Overall, 52% of the road projects are in the north, while 48% are in the south,’’ the minister pointed out.
Other projects highlighted by the minister include the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano dualisation and BUA tax credit roads in the north to the 2nd Niger Bridge access roads, East–West road works, Bodo–Bonny Road, and major bridge rehabilitations in the south.
Also Mr. Idris noted that the administration has revived the 255MW Kaduna Power Plant, fast-tracked the AKK Gas Project, expanded oil exploration in Bauchi and Gombe, and advanced the Kano–Maradi rail project from 5% to 67% completion.
Some specific “major” ongoing projects in the North according to the minister are, Sokoto–Gusau–Funtua–Zaria Road (275 km dualised, N824bn); Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road (350 km dualised, N764bn); BUA Tax Credit Road in Jigawa, Katsina, Kano (256 km dualised); Zaria–Hunkuyi Road (156 km); Kano Northern Bypass (49 km); and Kano–Maiduguri Road (100.9 km)
Others include, Bama and Dikwa Roads in Borno (100 km); Damaturu–Maiduguri Road (110 km); Malando Road in Kebbi (76 km); Benue–9th Mile Road (250 km dualised, $958m); Lokoja–Okene Dualisation (86 km); and Kaduna–Katsina Roads (Sections 1 and 2, ¦ 150bn).
In the Southwest are, Lagos–Ibadan (8.5 km, N33bn); Lagos–Sagamu (12 km dualised); Oyo–Ogbomoso–Ilorin (N146bn); and Rehabilitation of Carter, Third Mainland, and Eko Bridges (N120bn).
For South East, the minister listed Enugu–Onitsha Road (107 km,
N202bn via MTN Tax Credit); Enugu–Onitsha Road (72 km, N150bn via CBC); Enugu–Abakaliki Road (36 km); 2nd Niger Bridge Access Road (17.5 km dualised, ¦ 175bn); and Lokpanta–Enugu Road (61 km dualised, ¦ 100bn).
In the South South, the major projects, according to the minister, include Eleme–Onne Road (30 km, ¦ 156bn); Eket Bypass (9.7 km dualised, N76bn); East–West Road Section 2 (186bn); Nembe–Brass Road (N150bn); Lokoja–Benin Dualisation Bridge Access Road in Delta (17 km dualised, N146bn); and Bodo–Bonny Road in Rivers (35 km with 12 bridges, N200bn).
The minister said that in terms of appointment, President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, takes “inclusivity” as a central point citing the establishment of five new regional development commissions and the federal ministry of livestock development as evidence of fairness and national balance
According to him, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is building national infrastructure, not local trophies. His (Tinubu) leadership is inclusive, his vision is unifying, and his commitment to equity and justice is unwavering. Nigerians can rest assured that under his watch, no part of this country will be left behind.’’
