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MINISTER  OF WORKS AND HIS  FINANCE  COUNTERPART JOINTLY INSPECT ABUJA- KADUNA- ZARIA- KANO HIGHWAY,  BRAINSTORM WITH JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC  ON STRATEGIES  AND MILESTONES FOR DELIVERY OF THE PROJECT WITHIN A RECORD TIME.

PRESS RELEASE

12th January, 2024

In keeping  with the Presidential innovations  on inter-ministerial coordination, cooperation, and collaboration  in the tackling of sectoral  problems under the Renewed Hope administration  of His Excellency, Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency Sen.Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON and his counterpart, the Hon.  Minister  of  Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy,  Chief Adebayo  Olawale Edun, were on inspection  visit to  Abuja – Kaduna -Zaria-Kano Highway on 12th January  2024. 

The dual  carriageway which has been   a source of concern to road users because  of the many dilapidated  spots and  security  challenges, was awarded  to Julius Berger  Plc  but could  not be completed  because  of security  and funding  challenges. But the administration  of Mr. President views the road as very critical for the socio-economic advancement  of the nation and is therefore committed  to completing  the project  on a record  time.

While brainstorming  on strategies  and milestones for fixing  the road, the Hon. Minister  of Works assured  the contractors that funding  would  not be a problem  going forward. "We have got a commitment from the Honourable Minister of Finance  to make payment, and I am very sure if we pay Julius Berger Plc  according to the commitment on funding, it will complete the job “

The Minister also said “ we have issues of reviewing the contract sum, and we will sort that out. We sent our technical team to re examine the sub grade, which  will be the basis of our redesign, let me emphasis that  this is the first project we are touring in this place, and Mr President in his Renewed Hope Agenda has expressed his deep concern on the completion of the project and he has directed that everything must be done to get the entire project completed”

On his part, the Hon. Minister of Finance assured  of the unwavering  commitment  of the Federal  Government  in the timely  funding of the project  in line with the agreed  milestones.  “Under the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are both here  on inspection to hear the commitment of the contractor handling the project   and to support them,  to as soon as possible complete this all important reconstruction of the Abuja- Kaduna - Zaria - Kano  Road.”

The Finance Minister  described the works  sector  as one of the most strategic  sectors that will add value to the economic  development  agenda  of Mr. President and would  always  be given  priority  attention. "We want to urge the contractor  to do more.Infrastructure is a critical priority of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That is how we can get food prices down. Through transportation and easy transportation of agricultural products, we want to move freely across the country. To bring down the prices and inflation,we will be doing more on the funding. " 

On the inspection team includes directors from both Ministry of Works and Finance , Managing Director Julius Berger Nigeria Plc , Engr Dr Lars Richter who conducted the two ministers round the projects and several other stakeholders.

Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji

( Special Adviser ( Media) to  the Hon. Minister of Works)

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