Former governor of Gombe state and the senator representing Gombe Central, Danjuma Goje, has decried the exclusion of the North East from the Renewed Hope road projects across the country.
Goje, under the Point of Order 42 moved the motion title: Renewed Hope Legacy Road Infrastructure Projects: The Need To Include The North-East Geo-Political Zone In The Projects.
He noted that the Public Service Announcement made via various print media and social media platforms on June 28, by the Federal Ministry of Works, inviting stakeholders to participate in public engagements, regarding the ‘Renewed Hope Legacy Road Infrastructure Projects,” across the country;
The former minister added, “these landmark projects, which are made up of the Sokoto – Badagry Superhighway (SBS), connecting Sokoto (North-West) to Badagri (South-West); Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway (LCCH) (South-South); and Calabar – Ebonyi – Benue – Kogi – Nasarawa – Abuja Superhighway (South-East and North-Central, Respectively), were designed in line with the current administration’s commitment towards actualising the vision of making Nigeria the largest economy in Africa.
“However, the North-East is the only zone not included in these laudable projects.
“These bold initiative is part of the Renewed Hope developmental agenda of Senator Bola Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which upon completion will undoubtedly inter-connect the country and bring about unprecedented socio-economic growth as well as foster national unity and integration;
” The legacy projects, as shown on its map, designed by the Federal Ministry of Works, excluded the North-East Geo-political zone from the whole equation, and this has stimulated unprecedented concerns and agitations from the region given the strategic roles these projects will play in this country, hence the need to include the North-East in the projects.”
Goje added, “The non-inclusion of the North-East in the projects, which includes: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno Gombe, Taraba and Yobe, has raised a myriad of concerns about unequal development and potential marginalization of the region, which will further worsen the infrastructural challenges of the region.
“The security situation of the region has been further exacerbated due to lack of adequate road infrastructure networks that make it to be susceptible and exposed to all manner of security challenges, ranging from insurgency, banditry, among others.”
He noted that the non-inclusion of the region will not augur well for the socio-economic development of this country, as the economic viability and opportunities that abound in the region will not be fully tapped to the maximum benefit of the country,
The lawmaker further commended President Bola Tinubu, for this giant developmental stride in the quest to make Nigeria the biggest economy in Africa.
He, however, prayed that the senate, “urge the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Works to further expand the renewed hope legacy road infrastructure projects to include the Calabar-Makurdi-Jalingo-Yola-Maiduguri Highway, which will integrate the North-East into the Legacy Infrastructure Road Projects of Nigeria.”
The motion was seconded by Senator Diket Plang (APC, Plateau Central).
Plang stressed that including the North-East in the road project would improve the economy of the region.
He recalled that in 2016, the Federal Executive Council under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the construction of the road from Akwanga in Nasarawa state to Jos and Adamawa states but it wasn’t constructed.
Similarly, former Plateau governor, Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South) also supported the motion
He said, “There is nowhere you can get to Abuja without passing through the Akwanga – Jos road.
“The best way to travel is to go by road because that is when you will meet and greet people.”
Responding, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, expressed gratitude to Mr Danjuma for sponsoring the motion.
“I want to thank the distinguished Senator Goje for bringing this motion. It is clear, “ he said.
The motion was thereafter accepted by the Senate.