By Mohammed Mohammed
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has expressed satisfaction that Federal Government’s commitment to the development of quality infrastructure in the country is now manifesting and yielding positive fruits.
Onu made this known at the handover of the construction of Nnenwe – Uduma – Uburu road section (26.27km) and Spur to Ishiagu – mile 2 road (14km) in Enugu/Ebonyi states on over the weekend.
He reiterated that federal government is fully committed to improving road transport infrastructure, improve the ease of doing business and creation of jobs and prosperity to lift people out of poverty.
He said the road which is 40.27 Kilometres long is a critical component of the national road network, adding that the road has been built to the highest quality of design and workmanship and if well used, it should last for the designed service life.
Onu, urged users of the road to be mindful of practices that may lead to the degradation, abuse and non-safe usage of the road, as well as report to relevant authorities when non-civil use occurs.
According to him, road abuse takes many forms such as overloading of vehicles and trucks which accelerates pavement damage, spilling of petroleum products, which dissolves all the components and allows water to penetrate, and converting the road shoulders to permanent parking places, that brings the onset of road failure from the shoulder.
The Minister saluted MSME’s whom he described as the heart of the Nigerian economy and drivers of economic growth, adding: “The road is also a story of the capacity of our people. The patriotic Nigerians who were employed directly to build this road, the scores of suppliers employed indirectly who are responsible for providing the machines utilized in the construction.
“These are not only nation builders to whom we offer our salutations, they are the heart of the Nigerian economy, the micro, small and medium enterprises that drive our economic growth.”
According to him, the road is part of many roads to prosperity because reduced journey time means reduced expense on travel.
Earlier, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, who was ably represented by the Director Federal Highway South-east, Mr. Bola Aganaba, in his remarks said that these projects and many more have been commissioned in various parts of the Country, he added that they represent major investment in road transport infrastructure, which is a major commitment of the Buhari led administration as a driver for economic growth and prosperity.
In a good will message by the governor of Enugu State, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who was also ably represented by the State commissioner of works and infrastructure, Engr. Gregory Nnaji, Commended the developmental efforts of the Federal government and pledged the support of his government to partner with the FG to deliver on the dividends of democracy to his people.
He urged the benefiting communities to protect the critical infrastructure as it has become their responsibility to guard.