The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has commended the level and progress recorded by his ministry in the construction work of Federal roads in Kano State. Fashola gave the commendation on Thursday while on an inspection tour of Federal Government projects on both housing and roads in Kano and its environs.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister inspected the Kano/Katsina phase one road project which is a major link between Nigeria and Niger Republic through Katsina.
Fashola said that based on reports received from the contractors constructing the road and what he saw physically; there was progress recorded on the Kano main section and the Kano/Katsina border dual carriage roads.
“There is progress but with accompanying challenges, challenges in dualizing what used to be a single carriage way before to a dual-carriage way to make the road more conducive for easy flow of traffic.”
“This means we have to move out built-up facilities, markets, buildings and others, we have to relocate both electricity poles and others.”
“Some of these issues also come with the challenges of paying compensation to property owners as provided by the law. This is essentially state responsibilities because of the power granted by the constitution in respect to land control.”
“We are hopeful that the state governors will respond, and cooperate so that we can provide infrastructure that will connect states,” he said.
The Minister also disclosed that the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, had assured him that he would pay compensation to those who were really entitled to it in respect of road construction in the state.
He said that work was in progress on the section of the roads where there was no need to pay compensation.
According to him, when this is completed, the engineers will return to the difficult areas where there have been stop overs.
The minister commended President Muhammadu Buhari for making available resources to continue with infrastructural development throughout the federation.
Fashola said that the country was living on ageing infrastructure which he described as the indices of poverty which usually delay businesses and other activities.
According to him, if all infrastructural facilities are in place, they will ease the process of doing business and increase productivity.
Fashola disclosed that the Ministry of Finance had assured him that it would soon release the 2021 and 2022 Sukuk fund (the foreign loan assistance for infrastructure development) for the completion of the roads across the country.