Governance

Work progressing steadily on Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road Project – Minister

Arole Onikoyi, Abuja

There are indications that the ongoing reconstruction of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road is progressing steadily and would be completed and delivered on time.

This hint was dropped on Thursday 11th February, 2021 through a press release made available by Mrs Boade Akinola Director (Press and Public Relations Unit) on the inspection visit by the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engineer Abubakar D. Aliyu (FNSE) to assessment the progress of the ongoing work. 

 “We are satisfied with the quality of work going on and we are working to increase the pace of the work. You can see that work is going on simultaneously on all sections of both lanes of  the dual carriage  375km long road from Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria- Kano” he said

The Minister explained that the work was initially for rehabilitation but now full reconstruction work was being done and this had delayed the job.

He said: “We are fully committed both from the President Muhammadu Buhari, the Honourable Minister, the Engineers and the Contractor to deliver the project in good time. We will deliver a quality  work that will stand the test of time.”

Speaking further, the Minister said that Federal Government had prioritized the project and this accounted for the high level of inspection going on the project because Government wanted to finish the project on time.

On the level of work done so far, the Minister said: “We have made a lot of progress. You can see that over 100km of the road, at a stretch, had been completed under sections one to three (Abuja-Kano) , 40km completed under section II (Kaduna-Zaria), and 70km completed under section III (Zaria-Kano)”

He stated that while some sections of the roads were  at different levels of completion, section II would be delivered by first quarter of 2022 while section III would be completed by first quarter of  2023.

On his part, the Federal Controller of Works, Kaduna, Engineer Zira  Adamu said that the quality of materials as well as the workmanship deployed for the works was satisfactory.

“The contractor is fully mobilized to site and since then work on the project has moved to five work zones and we are satisfied with the pace and quality of work.”, he  said.

On the challenges being faced, the Regional Manager of Julius Berger Nigeria Limited, Engineer Benjamin Bott lamented that despite the provision of warning / caution signs and traffic control devices to improve safety at diversions within the construction zones some motorists often disregard the signs thereby causing accident.

He added that the prevalence of kidnapping and armed robbery along the project corridor was also affecting their work.

The Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road reconstruction project was awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc on 20th December, 2017 and the project commenced on 21st May, 2018 with 36 months completion period.

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