By Seun Adams
The Minister of State for Works, Barr. Mohammad Goronyo, has showered praises on the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his giant strides in road infrastructure, which is a major enabler of national growth and development.
This is coming even as the Commissioner of Works, Kebbi State, Engr. Abdullahi Faruk, who was on hand to receive the Minister thanked the Administration of President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of State and FERMA for coming to the rescue of the state, describing the road as the most important route into the state, in terms of enhancing socioeconomic activities.
The HMSW made this comment on Wednesday, 18th December, 2024 at the commissioning of a recently rehabilitated road by Federal Emergency Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in between Gusau and Talata Mafara towns in Zamfara State and the Zaria- Funtua-Gusau road.
He extolled the visionary drives, dogged and consistent commitment of Mr. President toward alleviating the plight of Nigerians through the provision of quality infrastructure.
Goronyo, who has been crisscrossing the entire country in the past few weeks to inspect and commission FERMA projects, opined that the Gusau-Talata Mafara road project has the potential to open up the state to other neighboring states, boost socio-economic activities within the corridor, reduce road accidents and promote ease of travels for the residents of the community and Nigerians, in general.
The Minister later made an unscheduled stop over to inspect the ongoing Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) project along Gusau – Sokoto axis, Fajaidu section. Again, he used the occasion to commend the President for his audacious will to thrive where past leaders couldn’t. He described the project as iconic, one of its kind, which will in no doubt facilitate rapid economic development in the country, as well as salute the courage, determination and patriotism of the President, as outlined in his Renewed Hope Agenda.
While also commending the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, for buying fully into and running with the Renewed Hope Mandate of the President with zeal, Mr. Goronyo urged Nigerians to support the present administration in its concerted efforts to reposition the nation for prosperity and bringing succour to its teeming populace.
In Kebbi State, a mammoth crowd of jubilant residents came out to receive the Minister as he formally commissioned another rehabilitated project on Birnin Kebbi-Argungu-Sokoto State border road in Kebbi State. The road, which was damaged by frequent movement of articulated vehicles and made worse by recent flooding in the area, making it impassable for vehicles and causing difficulties to its users and residents, was rehabilitated by Federal Emergency Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).
He also commended Tinubu, for making it possible for FERMA to carry out the repairs by providing the needed financial resource to the MD/CEO, Engr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi and the management team for responding promptly to the yearning of the people to fix the road, adding that Sokoto State had been in a state of utter disrepair before the rehabilitation.
The Minister underscored the importance of the road as a major connecting route between Kebbi and Sokoto states, which he described as one people except for geographical mapping.
Goronyo, listed the benefits of the rehabilitation to include improved commercial activities, creation of direct and indirect jobs, reduced travel time, cost of vehicle maintenance, accidents and fatalities, increased agricultural activities and improved security, which are all contained in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration. He called on the residents of the community to take full ownership of the road and be vigilant so that articulated vehicles do not damage the road, again, without paying for its repairs.
He informed the community that “Operation Safe Our Roads” was launched at Ilela in Sokoto State on Tuesday, to ensure that road users are more responsible in the way and manner they use the road, which are built and maintained by taxpayers’ money.
He said: “Stiff penalties will be meted on culprits to serve as deterrent to others, he cautioned. He assured the residents that President Bola Tinubu loves the North and will do nothing inimical to the development and growth of the region, drawing a warm applause from the people.”
