Bauchi Gov berates FG over road projects construction

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has berated the Federal Government for its reaction to the reconstruction of the 60 kilometre Kirfi–Gombe Abba road linking up the two neighbouring Bauchi and Gombe states in the North-East region of the country.

Mohammed said the Federal Government under the operational mandate of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) had sometimes early last year promised to undertake reconstruction work on the Cheledi–Gombe Abba said however that consistent follow-ups by the Bauchi State Government for the commission to keep to its promise of executing the road project has for sometimes now being lingering and hasn’t yet had any headway, expressing fears with the promise not to end naughtily.

“If by next year ending after my reelection for a second term in office which I have every confidence of winning the election and when it happens that the commission did not keep to its words, the state government would definitely undertake the road reconstruction work,” he said.

The governor who spoke speaking while flagging-off the Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme (KEEP) in Kirfi and Alkaleri Local Government Areas of the state over the weekend, said Bauchi was enthusiastic that the commission would complete the road project before the commencement of the current rainy season, when up till date it has not even taken-off.

Mohammed recalled that the last time he approached the NEDC officials on way forward of the project, he was told that contract on the work has been awarded, saying now that the raining reason is running out it is hoped that the commission would come-in handy onto the project.

The former FCT minister, while thinking as to the whether or not the commission is playing partisanship in tone with its master, the FG with the project undertaking, however reminded that the whistle for commencement of electioneering campaigns in the country is yet to be blown by the electoral empire.

The programme ‘KEEP’ has showered skill acquisition materials, other poverty alleviation materials and solid cash worth N75 million to beneficiaries in each of the two local government areas, bringing to 18 out of the twenty LGAs in the state with the state government’s expenditure totaling N1.5billion.

The governor explained that his administration has demonstrated good leadership qualities by providing the necessary economic empowerment to deserving youths and women beneficiaries aimed at uplifting their economic status, as well as infrastructural development across all nooks and crannies of the 20 LGAs in the state.

Highlights of the economic empowerment flag-off included receiving 155 defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kirfi and Alkaleri LGAs into the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by the governor who assured them of an all-inclusive government, as he directed the state PDP chairman, Hamza Koshe Akuyam to include them in all activities of the party at their respective local governments.

The Star