Senator Kwankwaso’s claim that President Tinubu’s administration is marginalising the North in road infrastructure development is absolutely false, misleading, and self-serving. As Minister of Works, I have verified facts to prove otherwise.
The four legacy projects of President Tinubu demonstrate a commitment to fairness and equity:
– Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: 175km ongoing (South)
– Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway: 378km ongoing (North)
– Trans Sahara road: 118km ongoing in Ebonyi State (South)
– Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe road: redesigned and ongoing (North)
In these projects, the North has 52% and the South has 48%. Moreover, ongoing projects in the North include:
– Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina-Kaduna road: 275km dualized, ₦824 billion
– Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road: 350km dualized, ₦764 billion
– BUA Tax Credit road: 256km dualized, Jigawa-Katsina-Kano
– Kano Northern Bypass: 49km, ₦… billion
– Other projects in Borno, Kebbi, Benue, and Kogi states
In contrast, major ongoing projects in the South include:
– Completion of Lagos-Ibadan expressway
– Completion of Lagos-Sagamu road
– Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin road
– Repairs of Carter bridge, Third Mainland bridge, and Eko bridge
– Projects in the Southeast and South-South regions
I will publish a comprehensive list of ongoing projects next week, including those above ₦20 billion. President Tinubu is committed to developing every part of the country with fairness and equity. Senator Kwankwaso’s statement is divisive and misleading. I challenge him to a debate to set the records straight.
–Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE
Honourable Minister of Works.
