Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, has declared that his administration has embarked on massive rural roads across the state in order to boost agricultural activities and ensure food security.
The Governor therefore urged the agrarian communities across the state to leverage his administration’s efforts in the construction of rural roads to embark on massive food production for improved food security in the state and the nation.
The governor stated this when he performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of two key rural roads in Shira Local Government.
The 29-kilometre virgin road will link several communities, from Zigau and Beli to Galdimari in Shira LGA.
The governor added that the project would not only improve quality of life but equally improve access to school and the evacuation of farm produce, as well as boost economic activities.
He pointed out that a lack of access roads in communities had stagnated development in rural areas of Shira local government, hence the need for his administration to prioritise rural communities for the overall development of the state.
Bala Mohammed also said that the prioritisation of road construction and rehabilitation by his administration is a response to the wishes and aspirations of the various communities that have suffered neglect over the years.
Earlier, the Commissioner of the Ministry of Works and Transportation, Ibrahim Galadima, explained that the 29-kilometer road will link the agrarian communities of Galdimari, Beli, and Zigau.
He explained that the road construction was designed to make rural dwellers comfortable and open up rural communities for agricultural development.
A middle-aged resident of Zigau Community, Malam Ahmadi Hassan Beli, opined that the community has the capability of cultivating enough food for the state, but a lack of access roads had hindered their efforts.
The project was awarded to Habib Engineering Nigeria Limited and will be delivered within the next 12 months.
Meanwhile, Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has assured the people of Itas/Gadau LGA that the much-needed 25-km Itas – Gadau road will be completed at the beginning of the second quarter of the year.
The governor addressed the mammoth crowd that trooped out to greet him when he inspected the level of work on the road on Tuesday.
Bala Mohammed expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far on the road linking the two major towns of Itas and Gadau, thereby opening up other hitherto hidden communities along the road.
The N8.5b road project, which includes the construction of the longest and most expensive bridge in the state, drainages, culvers, and bridges, was inaugurated in April 2021 by Oyo State Governor Engineer Seyi Makinde.
While inspecting the project during a working visit, the governor said that when completed, the road will enhance transportation and agricultural activities among the communities living in the area.
According to him, the unscheduled inspection was out of his determination to ensure proper monitoring and evaluation of all the projects awarded by his administration.
He therefore commended the contractors handling the project for working according to the project specifications despite the rising cost of construction materials.
While conducting the governor round of the project, a director of the contracting firm, Engineer Ahmad Al-Sadeeq, expressed confidence that the work would be completed between April and May this year.
However, he promised to deliver the project according to the contractual agreement.
Some of the communities commended the governor for embarking on the project, which they said would open up their areas to the world and make communication easier for them.
Being an agrarian community, they expressed happiness that they can now transport their produce to markets while buyers can easily have access to them unhindered.