Katsina/Ala-Takum road project suffers setbacks due to insecurity, rock blasting ban – FG

The Federal Government has attributed the delay in the construction and completion of the 78.62km Katsina-Ala Takum road to the high level of insecurity in the area.

The Minister of Works disclosed this during the Ministry’s assessment tour of ongoing and completed projects in Benue State. The contractor handling the Katsina-Ala-Takum road had paid over N50 million ransom to rescue some of the workers who were kidnapped at their duty post.

Umahi, who spoke through Mukaila Danladi, the Benue Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works, said the contractor had achieved the binder level up to 2.5 kilometres. “From 2.5 kilometres to 12 kilometres, they have achieved sub-base level and are ready to receive the base course.”

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He also lamented the Benue Government’s ban on blasting of rocks, which he said has grossly affected the progress of the contract, apart from the security challenges.

James Igba, Project Coordinator, Gerawa Global Engineering Nigeria Limited, disclosed in a welcome address that the company took over the site on November 27, 2023, but had to stop work at a point due to security challenges around the road corridor.

The project coordinator told the FMW team led by Mohammed Abdullahi, Director of Information and Public Relations, that the project was to be completed in December 2025, but due to the challenges faced, they have applied for an 18-month extension.

Abdullahi, the FMW team lead, said the tour was to gauge the perception of the Federal Government’s interventions in road infrastructure to ease the plight of commuters and boost the transportation system of the rural dwellers.

He said that the enhancement of roads network to ease transportation is one among the eight pillars of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying the tour was to inaugurate completed emergency projects and inspect the ongoing ones.

According to him, “this administration inherited a total number of 3,064 roads at inception on May 29, 2023, some of which were abandoned.

“The debt hangover of the project was up to N30 trillion, and the government of president Bola Tinubu has completed some of the projects and rehabilitated the failed portions of roads, while others are ongoing”

He appealed to communities to take ownership of projects in their domain so that it will stand the test of time.

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Earlier, Ukeyima Manger, immediate past chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Benue State chapter, applauded the Federal Government for awarding the contract to ease the sufferings of the farming communities in the area, saying it will also encourage inter-state connectivity between farmers and traders.

Ukeyima urged the contractor to adhere to contract specifications and ensure that the road meets the standard and is delivered within the time frame.