Spate of insecurity in the Borno axis of the northeast has been blamed for the delay in the completion of the ongoing Kano-Maiduguri road project being handled by the federal government.
The Director, Highways Construction and Rehabilitation, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engr Funso Adebiyi revealed this in Kano while inspecting some sections of the project in the state.
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He disclosed that some construction workers who were handling some sections of the road had been kidnapped and are yet to be released by their captors, the development which he said had forced some other contractors out of site.
“In the course of executing this project one of the major issues that confronted this project from section one to section five is the problem of insecurity.
“It may surprise you to hear that one of our contractors, SETRACO, they kidnapped some of their expatriates and we could not trace them till today. Still I think MODACAT has another setback.
“As I am talking to you section five handled by CCECC, they have to vacate the site because of this same problem of insecurity.”
However, Adebiyi said the Federal government along with the Borno state government is weighing other options to subcontract out the sections of the road within the hostile region to indigenous contractors that could handle the project.
Speaking further, the director identified inadequate budgetary provisions over time as another responsible factor for the delay in some sections of the road.
“Coming back to section one, the original contract sum was N37bn but it has been reviewed and reviewed and now is N63.38bn one of the factors that delayed this again is the issue of funding. Budgetary provision has not been really adequate over time and this has had some delivery effect on this project.
“However, the year of augmentation, because in the process we exhausted out quantity and we need to secure approval and I am glad to inform you that we have secured approval for that augmentation” Adebiyi added.
Recall that the contract was awarded in 2006 at the sum of N37bn before it was reviewed to N63.137bn and the completion period extended from February 11, 2010 to December 30, 2021.
The scope of the work involves provision of new standard carriageway from Kano, through Wudil and Gaya to Shuarin in Jigawa state with a total dual distance of about 202.73Km.
The work also includes reconstruction of three river bridges and two interchange flyovers besides culverts and other concrete works.
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Despite the setback, Adebiyi assured that the work would be completed by June this year as it had reached 75 per cent level of completion.
According to him, the Phase One of the project starting from Hotoro NNPC roundabout to Shuarin, in Jigawa State has so far reached 63 per cent level of completion.
“In the second section, we have completed 86 per cent, third section 90 per cent and in the fourth section we have achieved over 80 per cent while the last section that will enter Maiduguri, we have completed 60 per cent,” he said.
Other road projects inspected included the 26.6 Km Kano western bypasses which was awarded to Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company since 2007.
Speaking about the project, Adebiyi expressed hope that the work would be completed by end of this year.
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About 31 road projects spread across different parts of Kano state are currently being undertaken by the federal government Engr Funso Adebiyi disclosed.
“We have Kano Maiduguri road, we have Kano western bypass, not only that we have 22 major other roads, some of them include the Dawanau airport road which is 22Km, Dawakin-Tofa to Gandu road, we also have Bichi road, then we have Challawa, so all these are parts of different road projects we are doing across the state and we are going on all of them simultaneously that’s to tell you that the federal government is trying its best for Kano” he said.
He said apart from the 28 road projects currently at different levels of completion, three new ones have recently been awarded in the state.
He urged the people of Kano to continue to be patient and supportive to the government as it spares nothing to chance to improve the life of the people.
He said, “Government is desirous of completing this project, as such is not leaving anything to chance, that is why we are here regularly tracking the progress of work with a view to sorting out any identified challenges.”
The Manager, Dantata and Sawoe construction company, Mr. Roy Hungushi, who is handling Section One of the Kano – Maiduguri road and Kano Western bypass, assured that the project would be completed at the stipulated time.
