President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday flagged off the reconstruction of the 122-kilometre Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road, fulfilling a major campaign promise he made to the people of Birnin Gwari during the 2022 presidential campaign.
The president, who was represented by Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, recalled that Tinubu visited Birnin Gwari on December 22, 2022, despite security concerns at a time when the area was regarded as the epicentre of banditry, kidnapping and insurgency.
Governor Uba Sani said Tinubu insisted on visiting the community because, as a presidential candidate, he believed he owed the people a personal visit despite warnings about the security situation.
He recalled that the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who was then the General Officer Commanding (GOC) One Mechanised Division, provided 21 armoured vehicles and military personnel to ensure the success of the visit.
According to the governor, the journey from Kaduna to Birnin Gwari took about four and a half hours because of the deplorable condition of the road, with the campaign team arriving at about 8:30 p.m.
He said the Emir of Birnin Gwari received the APC presidential candidate and conferred on him a traditional title during the visit.
Uba Sani said Tinubu had made two key promises to the people of Birnin Gwari—to reconstruct the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road and restore peace and security to the area.
“Today, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fulfilled both promises. We are here to witness the groundbreaking ceremony of this very important road project,” the governor said.
He described the road as a strategic economic corridor linking the North-West to the South-West through five states to Lagos, adding that the Federal Government had approved ₦178 billion for its reconstruction.
The governor commended the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, describing him as a committed and detribalised leader who worked tirelessly to secure approval for the project.
Uba Sani expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, noting that residents can now travel between Kaduna and Birnin Gwari without police escort due to improved security in the area.
He also disclosed that Birnin Gwari had not benefited from any major federal road project in over two decades until the current administration, while the Kaduna State Government is presently constructing 36 kilometres of asphalt roads connecting 72 farming communities in the local government.
The governor said the road projects and improved security were clear dividends of peace, adding that Tinubu’s administration had also approved $865 million for the Kaduna Light Rail project, while work is progressing on the Western Bypass and plans are underway to resume the Eastern Bypass project.
He reaffirmed Kaduna State’s support for President Tinubu, expressing confidence that the APC would secure overwhelming victory in the 2027 general election.
Speaking earlier, Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, described President Tinubu as a leader who keeps his promises and rewards loyalty, while praising Governor Uba Sani for uniting Kaduna people and delivering impactful infrastructure projects across the state.
