Yemi Kosoko in Jos
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has described the continuing reconstruction of the Akwanga-Jos part of the Trans-Sahara Superhighway as a landmark infrastructure undertaking that can rework financial actions, enhance safety and deepen nationwide integration throughout Nigeria.
Yilwatda acknowledged this throughout an inspection tour of the undertaking, the place he expressed satisfaction with the tempo of labor and counseled the dedication of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to delivering essential street infrastructure throughout the nation.
The APC nationwide chairman stated the undertaking represented probably the most important federal investments within the area in a long time, noting that the hall had suffered years of neglect regardless of its strategic significance to socio-economic growth within the North-central and North-east areas.
According to him, the reconstruction kinds a part of the bigger Trans-Sahara Superhighway hall stretching from Calabar by means of Ebonyi, Enugu, Benue, Abuja and Jos, earlier than extending to Gombe, Biu and Maiduguri, linking a number of geopolitical zones and making a seamless transport community throughout the nation.
He stated the freeway, which spans greater than 1,400 kilometres, would function a catalyst for commerce, funding and nationwide cohesion by connecting communities, markets and companies throughout the South-south, South-east, North-central and North-east areas.
Yilwatda famous that the Akwanga-Jos street, initially constructed round 1972, had not witnessed main rehabilitation for greater than 5 a long time, with successive interventions restricted largely to palliative repairs and patchwork.
“For over five decades, since the days of the late Joseph Gomwalk around 1972, this corridor witnessed only piecemeal patching. Communities along the Nasarawa-Plateau axis rarely saw federal capital projects running into even N10 billion. Today, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has committed hundreds of billions of naira to build an infrastructure asset designed to endure for over a century,” he stated.
He defined that the undertaking was being executed utilizing inflexible concrete pavement expertise to make sure sturdiness and scale back upkeep necessities, including that the street was designed to serve future generations.
“We are targeting a lifespan of over 100 years before there will be a need to consider maintaining or repairing it again. That is how you build a lasting legacy,” he acknowledged.
The APC chairman additional disclosed that the freeway would incorporate fashionable safety structure, together with clever surveillance techniques, steady lighting, devoted police outposts and emergency trauma centres aimed toward safeguarding commuters and communities alongside the route.
According to him, the 24-hour surveillance cameras would help safety businesses in monitoring vehicular actions, monitoring legal actions and guaranteeing speedy response to emergencies.
“This is not just a road; this is connecting communities. This is connecting customers, connecting markets, connecting people and improving security,” he stated.
Yilwatda maintained that the undertaking embodied the beliefs of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including that seen infrastructure growth throughout the nation was proof that the administration was translating marketing campaign guarantees into tangible outcomes.
He additionally described the administration’s infrastructure drive as a significant political asset for the ruling APC forward of the 2027 basic election, arguing that Nigerians would in the end decide the federal government by initiatives delivered and impacts felt of their each day lives.
Earlier, the undertaking’s Equipment Coordinator and Public Relations Officer, Mr. James Baba, stated building actions had intensified following the mobilisation of heavy gear to the Jos axis consistent with directives from the Federal Ministry of Works.
Baba disclosed that work was progressing concurrently from each the Akwanga and Jos ends of the freeway, whereas test-running of the inflexible concrete pavement had already commenced.
According to him, about 400 metres of inflexible pavement have to date been accomplished, with contractors concentrating on 10 kilometres of earthwork earlier than Christmas and an extra 30 kilometres anticipated to be delivered subsequent yr.
“Our target this year is to cover about 10 kilometres of earthwork before Christmas,” he stated, expressing confidence that the undertaking could be executed consistent with authorized specs and the best high quality requirements.
He defined that the adoption of cement concrete pavement rather than typical asphalt adopted the Federal Ministry of Works’ specs and was meant to ensure long-term sturdiness of the freeway.
