SIR: On August 8, 2018, the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola announced that the federal government had approved the expansion of the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe road to the dual carriageway at the cost of N348.6 billion.
To our dismay, nothing has been achieved in this regard although the federal government had promised to finish the project within 48 months.
The 420.6 Km road, if completed will link the North-central with the Southeast and the northeast. Now, it is apparently abandoned with no hope of the project’s completion any time soon.
The northeast is one of the regions facing a serious challenge of the miserable road networks, especially from Plateau to Bauchi and Gombe states. Yet, the road linking Jos to Bauchi is one of the busiest roads in the country..
Presently, there are daily incidents of accidents leading to the loss of many lives and properties. In most cases, an accident occurs due to a high turnover of vehicles on the road as it’s the only way linking the northcentral with the northeast.
On the other hand, the majority of the people of the northeast are agrarians and herdsmen and so depend on the roads to convey their farm produce and cattle to the northcentral, south-south, southwest and southeast regions.
This is to say that dualising the roads will stimulate the nation’s agribusiness and ease the transportation of passengers while reducing the number of accidents on the road.
Now, 48 months have gone and there is no hope for the project. The Buhari-led federal government should hurriedly come to the aid of the northeast by completing the project.
- Joseline Kefas,
University of Maiduguri.