Buhari commissions Azare-Potiskum highway

By Perpetua Onuegbu

President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the Azare-Potiskum highway and told Nigerians to expect more delivery of road projects across the country..

Buhari gave the assurance in Azare, Bauchi State at the handing over of the 106.341 Km Section III of the Kano-Maiduguri highway.

The section three linked Azare in Bauchi with Potiskum in Yobe.

The President, who was in Lagos, was represented at the ceremony by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Maryam Katagum.

The President who emphasised his administration’s commitment to economic growth through infrastructural development, appealed to road users to desist from acts that could damage the road.

According to him, activities such as overloading of vehicles and trucks, spilling of petroleum products on the roads and conversion of road shoulders to permanent parking places damages the road and reduces its life span.

“We must all do our best to avoid these practices, report them when they occur and act in a lawful manner to stop them,” he said.

The Governor of Bauchi State, Sen. Bala Muhammed, commended Buhari for approving the dualisation and extension of two major highways that connect the state’s metropolis.

The highways are the dualisation and extension of Kano Road, from Giwa Academy, Abubakar Tafawa University Main Campus, Nigerian Air Force Base- Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport with a distance of 17.7kms and the expansion of Maiduguri-Awala- Bauchi State University.

The governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Sen. Baba Tela, noted that the roads were near completion and expressed optimism that the state government would be reimbursed by the Federal Government as soon as the state of the economy improves in the country.

He further applauded the collaborative effort between the Federal and Bauchi State government to restore the Bauchi-Ningi Road and Bogoro- Bauchi -Dawaki Road damaged by flood during the last rainy season.

He also expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and Works and Housing Minister, Mr Babatunde Fashola for bringing the project to conclusion.

The Minister of Works and Housing, represented by the Director, North East, Mr Celestine Shausu, stated that the SUKUK funding option which the Federal Government adopted was currently aiding the progress of work on 44 roads across the nation.

“The SUKUK is currently contributing to progress of work on 44 roads across Nigeria and as we complete them, events like this will hold,” he said.

Fashola commended all the stakeholders both in private and public institutions who have contributed to the actualization of the project.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr Babangida Hussaini, said that the Kano-Maiduguri Section III (Azare -Potiskum) connects four local government areas in Bauchi (Azare and Dambam) and Yobe (Nangere and Potiskum) States respectively.

He was represented at the occasion by the Federal Controller of Works Mr Salihu Ahmed.

The Emir of Katagum, Alhaji Dr Umar Farouq II, commended the Federal Government for completing the road which was abandoned for more than 20 years by previous administrations.

He said that the road was important to the socio-economic development of the benefiting communities.

He lauded the administration of President Muhammad Buhari, for completing the projects he met on ground when he came on board, adding that governance should be a continuous process.

(Watch a video of the road shared by Comrade Yusuf Ibrahim Kamal:

The commissioning and hand over of Azare- Potiskum Section III (Azare – Potiskum) is the fourth in the series after the Sokoto – Tambuwal -Jega -Kontagora – Makera Road in Sokoto and Kebbi states.

Others are Vandeikya -Obudu Cattle Ranch Road in Benue and Cross River states, and Nnewe-Oduma Road Section in Enugu and Ebonyi States.