By Zaveshe Ofei
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has said the ongoing dualization of the 221 KM Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi road is being financed through the China EXIM bank loan.
The explanation came while fielding questions from Reporters during the inspection of the 221 km stretch of road, the National Housing Programme and Federal Secretariat projects in Nasarawa State.
He added that negotiation for the China EXIM bank loan started from former President Goodluck Jonathan Administration.
Mr. Hakeem Bello, the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister quoted his boss as saying in a statement on Friday: “The road is being funded from a China EXIM Bank loan, pointing out that although the decision to borrow from the Chinese bank was initiated by the immediate past administration, the process was completed by the current administration because “It is money borrowed for investment to improve peoples’ lives.”
The Minister declared that the strategy of the Muhammadu Buhari Administration regarding infrastructure as a driver of economic growth is working.
Fashola, advocated collaboration rather than agitation as a means of solving issues as according to him, collaboration would enable government to engage the owners of land and properties along the corridors of ongoing road projects while construction and rehabilitation works continue on such projects.
“I have always told you that my own view of our role as a progressive government is to improve the human condition”, he told the newsmen adding that all the activities along the project corridors, including business and other economic activities, were for improving the human condition.” He said.
The Minister appealed to the communities to remain peaceful and collaborate with government, especially on the issue of compensation, adding that agitation would only delay the completion of the work.
According to him, the 221 kilometre road runs from the Federal Capital Territory through Nasarawa all the way to Makurdi in Benue State, the Minister explained further, “The dualization is being undertaken to include a 10-lane expansion of over five kilometres where Abuja joins Nasarawa around Mararaba area.”
In company of the State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, he explained that the programme was being undertaken in Phases in 34 states of the country.
He added, “We are now in some states at Phase 3; in many other states we are in Phase 2, and that is why you see some completed and some uncompleted houses here”.
Also speaking at the secretariat complex site, Sule expressed deep appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister for the number of infrastructure projects going on in the State including the new Secretariat.
The Governor, who commended Fashola’s inspiring achievements as Governor of Lagos State and now as Minister, declared, “I have nothing else to say than to thank you, thank Mr. President for all the support Nasarawa State has continued to receive. You have mentioned clearly the Nasarawa-Loko-Oweto Bridge that you have completed and even the over N30 billion that you have just recently approved at FEC in order for us to get that project completed for the 74 kilometre Road.”
