By Abel Leonard, Lafia
Worried by the spate of roads accidents leading to the death of several persons, particularly along the Lafia/Akwanga axis, Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule has met with the Minister for Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, seeking for the accelerated completion of ongoing roads projects across the state.
Engineer Sule made the call when he visited the Minister in his office in Abuja.
The Governor lamented the continuous loss of lives due to accident on the highways, especially between Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon, which he described as unfortunate and worrisome.
He was accompanied on the visit by his predecessor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu. The Governor also called on the Minister to persuade the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, speed up the completion of the Mpape/Panda road, to provide another gateway to the FCT, thereby reducing the frequent traffic congestion along the Keffi/Abuja highway.
Speaking at the event, first civilian governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Adamu, said he was on the entourage to support the effort of the governor and to invigorate his spirit towards delivering on his promises to the electorates.
Senator Adamu expressed appreciation that this was the first time a governor of the state is approaching him for assistance since he left office in 2007.
The Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture said he joined the Governor on the visit in the spirit of service without hesitation.
“We appreciate what the present administration is doing in the provision of infrastructure in Nasarawa State”, informing Fashola that the completion of the road projects will be added a feather to his cap.
Senator Adamu, who decried the meagre budget for the road projects due to insufficient funds, however, pleaded with the Minister to come to the assistance of the state, essentially because the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is giving prominence to building critical infrastructure.
While also calling for the speedy completion of the Mpape/Panda road project, Adamu expressed concern that passengers from about 15 states flow into Abuja via Nasarawa State, leading to perpetual traffic gridlock with its attendant consequences.
Responding, Minister for Works & Housing, Babatunde Fashola stated that President Muhammadu Buhari has given them the mandate to support all governors in order for them to achieve their developmental goals.
He also recounted the progress achieved so far on the Loko – Oweto road and thanked Governor Sule for carrying out inspection visits on the road projects in his state.
On the issue of accidents, the Minister regretted every loss of life on the road, calling on the Nasarawa State government to create more enlightenment campaigns, in order to sensitize road users about the dangers inherent on the road tracks.
He, however, promised to finish up work on the roads as soon as possible. Lamenting on the issue of low funding, Fashola said: “it is not what we have (that matters), but what we do with what we have”.
The Minister thanked the Governor for the visit, as well as Senator Adamu, whom he described as the father of Nasarawa State, for his passion for service and ability to speak to power.
Other dignitaries on the entourage of the Governor include among others, Hon. Abdulkarim Ari, the member, representing Nasarawa /Toto Federal Constituency, Hon. Danladi Madaki, a former state lawmaker, as well as one time Commissioner for Agriculture.
