By Joyce Babayeju
Nigerians have expressed delight at the completion of the dualization and expansion of the Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia Expressway by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).
The road project is part of the larger dualisation process that covers three states namely Abuja- Keffi- Akwanga- Lafia- Makurdi expressway, which is about 220 km.
Residents of Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital and neighbouring Keffi also in the state told our correspondent that the completion of this phase of the road has indeed put the company at the forefront to boost infrastructure development in Nigeria as part of the move to deepen ties between China and Nigeria under the Belt and Roads Initiative.
Driving through the road network, the entire stretch delighted the residents, who lauded the company and the Nigerian government for the continuous efforts to build and rehabilitate roads across the nation even as they requested for more funding for the company to complete the remaining projects to add value to the people and boost their economy.
One of the major stakeholders of Keffi, Mohammed Agwai Mohammed, who goes by the traditional title of Shetiman Keffi, expressed his joy that the federal government in collaboration with China Harbour has indeed constructed not just good roads but has boosted the skill, capacity and technical expertise of the people through knowledge sharing as well as technology transfer.
Mohammed said “I wish that all Nigerian roads should be given to China Harbour because of their commitment to work and their hard work. Their standard is superb and second to none. We the people around Keffi and environs have been watching them and can testify to this fact. They are recognised internationally and I like them for their commitment to work.”
He pointed out that the Emir of Keffi, the chairman of Keffi Local government Council and other stakeholders are very happy with the performance of China Harbour.
In terms of Corporate Social Responsibility, Shetima noted that CHEC has made significant contribution in community development because it has engaged many young men, who were idling away in skill acquisition and technical expertise as many of them are now being supported to expand their vocation and enrol into schools to further their studies amid other social benefits.
He added that “Truly they are excellent when it comes to community relationships and their effective and efficient personnel drive the relationship with the Nigerian people to this success.
“Quite a number of young people have acquired technical competencies and skills in diverse fields of road construction and they are using those skills to add value to their lives such as welding which they now also use to employ others. This is one of the benefits of working with China Harbour. So there is a multiplier effect that our young people have gotten from their experience working with China Harbour. Their investment in Nigeria has been very productive and very helpful to the community.”
Also speaking to our correspondent, Ibrahim Yakubu, a motorist, who plies the Abuja-Keffi-Lafia express way said the massive investment made by China Harbour in road construction, has made travelling along that route smooth and safe, adding that the “people of the region are already seeing the transformation in terms of business opportunities as goods and services have now scaled up in these areas.
Recall that last year, the Nigerian House of Representatives Committee on Works, led by its Chairman Hon. Engr. Abubakar Kabir pushed for more funding for the dualisation of the Abuja- Keffi- Akwanga- Makurdi expressway.
The project is divided into two components which are the addition of two lanes on the existing dual carriage from Kugbo in Abuja to the border of Nassarawa state, which is about 5.4 kilometers and the addition of another carriageway to the existing keffi- Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi road.
The project was completed and handed over to the Nigerian government in April 2023, and is expected to set off operation and maintenance in October 2023.
