The ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives has pledged to accelerate the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road project. Chairman Rep. Aminu Jaji (APC) made this commitment following an oversight visit to the Abuja-Kaduna section of the project on Sunday.
Expressing frustration over the slow progress of work by the contractor, Jaji emphasized that the project has been underway for nearly six years. He assured that the committee would intervene to resolve any outstanding issues and expedite construction to make the road accessible as soon as possible.
“The manner in which the contractors are executing this work is unsatisfactory,” Jaji stated. “We will ensure that all pending matters are addressed so that work can resume immediately.”
He highlighted that the formation of this committee under the leadership of Speaker Rep. Tajudeen Abbas was deemed essential to tackle these delays. “Whether the issues pertain to funding, contractor performance, or technical challenges, we are committed to identifying and resolving them promptly,” he affirmed.
Additionally, Jaji reassured road users to remain patient as efforts are ramped up to improve the road conditions swiftly. “The National Assembly is dedicated to ensuring the timely completion of this project,” he said.
This commitment comes on the heels of a recent warning from the federal government, which threatened to revoke a portion of the Abuja-Kaduna highway contract awarded to Julius Berger. During a visit on October 17, Minister of Works David Umahi expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress and highlighted that while the Kaduna-Zaria section is complete and the Zaria-Kano section is nearing completion, the Abuja-Kaduna segment has only achieved 27% progress over the past six years.
On October 24, the government issued a final seven-day ultimatum to Julius Berger, demanding acceptance of a proposed budget of N740.79 billion to complete the rehabilitation of the 82km Section II of the road. Umahi emphasized the need for a resolution, stating that the prolonged negotiations must come to a close within the week.
This ongoing saga underscores the urgency and importance of addressing infrastructure challenges in the region, as stakeholders and the public await timely solutions to enhance road safety and accessibility.
