Ensure speedy completion of Sokoto-Zaria road to save lives, Sultan tells FG

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll, has called on the Federal Government to ensure speedy completion of on the dualization of Sokoto-Zaria road to save the lives of travelers.

Speaking at the flagging off of the construction of Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Sultan said the bandits are  taking advantage of bad condition of the road to attack and abduct travelers.

Sultan Abubakar said timely completion of the project would reduce attacks along the road, saying a portion of the road, particularly from Gusau-Funtua, has became a death trap for travelers.

“Several people including traditional rulers have been abducted along Funtua-Gusau road. The federal government should support the governors of Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina to ensure speedy completion of the project.”

• Oil workers killed as helicopter crashes in Rivers
• 23 elected council chairmen get certificates in Kaduna

“I am therefore, appealing to the federal government to help us complete the project. When the project is complete, the bandits would not have chance to attack travelers any more. The government should do something about this project in order to save the lives of travelers,” he said.

Reacting to the Sultan’s plea, the Minister of Works, Senator Nweze David Umahi, said the federal government is committed towards completing the project.

“Mr. President has directed me to do something about this particular project and presently work has resumed at different locations of the 700klm distance project.”

“We are living witnesses that several construction workers have been kidnapped along Funtua-Gusau road and to stop that the office of the National Security Adviser has provided adequate security personnel along the road to ensure the safety of both travelers and construction workers.”

About three weeks ago, bandits killed eight personnel of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards (CPG) in Tsafe local government, Zamfara state and few days after, they shot the State Commander General of the CPG, General Lawal  B. Muhammad (rtd).

Again, early this week, the bandits abducted some travelers including the State Director of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in-charge of Zamfara state, Alhaji Bashir Abara Gummi, in Kucheri village, Tsafe local government area of Zamfara.