By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed on Monday, flagged off the construction of 22kms Darazo – Gabchiyiari rural road in Darazo Local Government Area o the state.
The road, awarded at the cost of N2.66 billion, is expected to open up the agrarian community where farm produce is harvested through all year round farming.
Speaking at the flagging off ceremony, the Governor said that one of the priorities of his administration is to ensure that development reached the people especially those at the grassroots in order to open up the areas and take development to them.
He said that the road will be completed with 12 dry months in order to ensure that the entire community along the road enjoy dividends of democracy.
Ongoing construction of 22kms Darazo – Gabchiyiari rural road
The governor, however, chided the immediate past administration of Governor Mohammed Abubakar for not doing a proper procurement for the construction of the road.
“We have to give credit to the administration of former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi for initiating the project, but it did not follow proper procurement process for it.”
“We have spent the sum of N800m before discovering that the former specification was not viable because of a lot of defects. We have done a redesign and now we have commenced the project.
“The contractor, Prudent Construction has been told to ensure that the project was executed in accordance with the specifications and terms of contract. If that is done, the road will be in use for next 50 years,” he said.
He called on the benefiting communities to put the road to proper use and ensure that it was used for the purpose of mainly transportation especially of farm produce.
Governor Mohammed also said that his administration has uncovered many loopholes in project execution and has already taken steps to check the tide and ensure that projects were executed according to the specifications and terms of contract.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner of Works and Transport, Ibrahim Galadima explained that the road is a 22km stretch from Darazo town to Gabchiyari linking several other villages and settlements along it.
He added that the project is meant to make life easier for the various communities located in the axis assuring that it will further open up the area.
Galadima assured that the project will be executed according to the specifications and terms of contract calling on the communities to appreciate the Governor and his administration by supporting it to succeed.
In his welcome address, the Caretaker Chairman of Darazo LGA, Samaila Ya’u Sade commended the Governor for the project saying that it was a long expected road considering the hardship facing people of the area.
He expressed joy that the project which is coming as a fulfilment of the campaign promises became a reality during his tenure saying that it has endeared the administration to the people.
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