As President Bola Tinubu’s administration battles rising tension in northern Nigeria amid growing criticism of neglect and marginalisation, the Minister of Transport, Sai’du Alkali, has revealed that the Federal Government has completed about 135 road projects across the region to boost the movement of goods and people, and to strengthen the region’s economy.
The minister made the disclosure during his presentation on infrastructure at the two-day interactive session on government-citizen engagement held Wednesday in Kaduna.
The event, themed “Accessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity,” was organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation.
Alkali also disclosed that 216 additional road construction projects are currently ongoing across northern states.
“Also, about 312 road maintenance projects have been completed, while 50 others are in progress.
“Moreover, several legacy projects cutting across many states are underway, including the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Calabar–Abuja Superhighway, and the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road.
“In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 14 road projects have been completed and inaugurated.
“Other completed projects include the Greater Abuja Water Supply Network Project, the construction or rehabilitation of numerous primary and secondary schools, and the commissioning of three world-class bus terminals.
“It is also worthy of note that President Bola Tinubu has approved the construction of a mega bus terminal in each geopolitical zone of the country,” Alkali said.
The minister added that other road construction, rehabilitation, and expansion works are ongoing nationwide in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He further explained that the Federal Government had secured financing for the entire Aba–Maiduguri corridor, which cuts across Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Benue. He added that rehabilitation work has commenced on the old Lagos–Kano Narrow Gauge rail line, including freight services linking Apapa Port to the Kano Inland Dry Port.