Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has flagged off
roads projects worth N50 billion in Bauchi.
Dogara, while flagging off the projects in his Dass/Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, said that the 50 kilometer Dass – Wand – Baraza –Dur – Lushi – Zunbul – Folchi – Dott – Dundot road was a joint effort of all members of the National Assembly from the state.
He explained that under the N50 billion worth of roads projects to be undertaken include the reconstruction of Bauchi-Gombe, which contract had been awarded, Kano-Bauchi North and Bauchi Central up to Maiduguri.
According to him, the roads are to be undertaken by the federal government, stressing that if the roads were to be done by the state government, it would take 10 years.
Dogara said: “I want to tell you that these are not the only roads projects we are going to undertake, there are other roads and by the grace of God, we will finish them in the next two years.
“We have a contractor here in our midst who is charged with the responsibility of roads projects who has been awarded the contract, and it will successfully be executed.
“The highway being built from Kano to Maiduguri cutting through Bauchi central, we are ensuring that it attracts the appropriate funding to finish it in good time, we are representing the people of Bauchi state. We will be able to attract federal projects across the lengths and breaths of our state.
“The value of all the roads across the state that we are doing is over N50 billion. If we were to rely on the state government only to do that work, it cannot be done in 10 years. So who says there’s no benefit in representation.”
The Speaker, who was accompanied to the event by some members of the both arms of the National Assembly from all the geo-political zones of the country, assured that the road projects he was flagging off would be completed by 2019.
He said that the roads to be constructed are Burga – Plateau, Pankshin – Tapshin – Sara-Mangu which will also connect Lere -Jos.
He therefore called on the Plateau state government to complete the road from Zwall – Mai Juju which is at the boundary between Bauchi and Plateau states.
Dogara further said that the contractor handling the road projects was the same contractor who did the Bauchi-Tafawa Balewa road, pointing out that he has never collect any kickback from him contrary to insinuations in some quarters.
“I did the Bauchi – Tafawa Balewa road and the same contractor that did that work will also do these projects. And it is in that spirit that we are using him because we saw his work was a quality one”.
“I am happy that he (the contractor) is here, you can come and ask him if I have ever asked him for N1 after the award of that contract,” he stated.
Dogara added that two blocks of two classrooms are being constructed in all 40 schools across his federal constituency that comprised Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government Areas of the state.
According to him, any constituency that replaces its Representatives every four years will not get such dividends of democracy like the Dass/Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro Federal Constituency was enjoying.
He thanked his constituents, saying that their prayers and support were responsible for the projects being flagged off in the constituency.
Dogara further disclosed that a Police Transit Camp would be constructed in his constituency at the cost of N300 million. He added that a military barracks will also be sited in the area to forestall any ethno-religious or community conflict.