AfDB to spend $110m on rural roads, others in Kano, says Adesina

• Zulum orders completion of N9.3b Flyover Bridge, others Dec 15
• Group urges FG to declare state of emergency on Abuja-Lokoja-Benue-Enugu road

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has said that it is set to spend $110 million for rural roads, transport infrastructure, water and sanitation and agricultural productivity in the ancient city of Kano.

President of AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, disclosed this at the weekend, when he paid a condolence visit to Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, over the death of Sani Dangote at Africa House, Government House, Kano.

He said: “We are spending $110 million in Kano for our programme on Special Agricultural Industrial Processing Zone. We are in all, having about $563 million that will be dedicated to that project in various states of Nigeria.

“Investing in rural roads, transport infrastructure, water and sanitation, we will also invest in agricultural productivity to raise production of food.”

In his response, Ganduje thanked the AfDB President for the new development and assured him of his total support and co-operation for successful implementation of the project at all levels.

In another development, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has set December 15, 2021 as deadline for contractors to complete the N9.3 billion Flyover Bridge, Customs/Muna Garage dual-carriage road and two other projects.

Zulum gave the order during an inspection of the uncompleted projects in the state capital.

He directed the government officials supervising the projects to ensure that all contractors who deliver according to the contractual specifications are promptly paid.
ALSO, a South-East-based youth group, Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the Abuja–Lokoja–Benue–Enugu Road.

In a statement signed by its President-General, Goodluck Egwu Ibem, the group stated: “The Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), the umbrella body of all the youth groups in the South-East geopolitical zone, is alarmed over the deplorable state of Abuja-Lokoja-Benue-Enugu Road, Kogi-Onitsha Road, Onitsha-Enugu Express Road and other deplorable roads in the South-East zone.

“The roads are death-traps and have led to the untimely death of so many Nigerians.

“The deplorable state of the road from Abuja to the South-East through Kogi is really in a sorry state. Vehicles and trucks conveying people, food items and goods fall on daily basis on that road.”