…as Vice President commissions 5km Masaka-Luvu road
From Leo Zwanke, Nasarawa
Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for maintaining the delicate peace in Nasarawa State, stressing that there can never be development without peace.
The Vice President laid the commendation while commissioning the 5km Masaka-Luvu road, in Karu Local Government Area, on Thursday.
Senator Shettima particularly commended Governor Sule for maintaining the peace especially at a time when agents of destruction and purveyors of death are trying to inflame passion in most of the volatile parts of the North.
Recalling his recent visit to Plateau State over the unfortunate incidence during the Christmas eve, Senator Shettima, urged the citizens to resist the temptation to plunge the country into a state of anarchy.
He pointed out that there is no reason why the people of Northern Nigeria should fight each other instead of coming together to fight poverty, destitution and backwardness that is ravaging the region.
“We have to learn to embrace each other, to tolerate one another. And for us in Northern Nigeria, we are all united in our heritage of poverty and destitution. I see no reason why we should be fighting each other instead of collectively fighting poverty, destitution and backwardness in our states,” he stated.
Senator Shettima further commended Governor Sule for completing the road project that was initiated almost 20 years ago by the first civilian governor of the state, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
The Vice President equally commended Governor Sule’s deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, for his loyalty, support, maturity and tolerance.
He used the opportunity of the event to announce that the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu administration is poised to address infrastructural deficits across the country, adding that in the coming year, the Federal Government will introduce the school feeding programme across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Sule expressed appreciation that the 5km Masaka-Luvu road is being commissioned considering the historical nature of the road.
Governor Sule recounted that even though his administration executed bigger road projects like the 24km Mararaba-Udege stretch conceived nearly 30 years ago and the 18km Sisin-Baki-Farin Ruwa road leading to the first hydropower plant started by former governor Adamu, the Masaka-Luvu road is historical because successive administrations were not opportuned to construct the road.
He said he was motivated to execute the project after he accompanied former vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo to Luvu to commission a housing project, during which a journey of about 15 minutes took close to one and a half hour because of the terrible nature of the road.
“Every governor from Abdullahi Adamu that came to this place has promised them of doing this road. You can imagine my excitement today that this road has been completed,” he said.
Governor Sule appreciated the Vice President for accepting to commission the project in spite of the short notice.
He used the opportunity to call on the members of the benefiting committee to take the responsibility of maintaining the road, stressing that with the quality of work coupled with the adequate drainage, the road is expected to last for 15 years before any major maintenance.
The Governor further urged residents of the area to pay their taxes promptly especially that government undertook the construction of the road which will improve socio-economic activities in the area.
Commenting on the project, Engineer Mohammed Wada Yahaha, Managing Director, Nasarawa Urban Development Board (NUDB), said the contract for 5km Masaka-Luvu was awarded in January 2023 to a one hundred percent indigenous company.
Engineer Yahaya added that the road was designed with a haulage capacity of 25 metric tones and speed limit of 40km per hour, considering the concentration of population in the area.
He disclosed that the road was built to last for a minimum of 15 years before any major maintenance.
The event was witnessed by a host of dignitaries, including the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Emmanue Akabe; immediate past national chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; Senator Ahmed Wadada representing Nasarawa West; member of the House of Representatives representing Nasarawa-Toto federal constituency, Hon Abdulmumin Mohammed Ari, and the member representing Awe-Keana-Doma federal constituency, Hon Abubakar Hassana Laraba.
Others are member representing Akwanga-Nasarawa Eggon-Wamba federal constituency, Hon Jeremiah Umaru; Emir of Lafia and Chairman, Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs, Justice Sidi Bage Mohammed; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Danladi Jatau; members of the state Executive Council; members of Nasarawa State House of Assembly; Emirs of Keffi, Nasarawa and the Etsu Karu, amongst others.
