This appeal was made during a groundbreaking ceremony in Bida, Niger State, for the reconstruction and dualisation of the Lambata–Kontagora Highway, a substantial project spanning 401 kilometers with an estimated cost of ₦1.5 trillion.
Umahi positioned the highway as a critical component of Tinubu’s broader infrastructure development agenda, asserting that the president requires this additional term to finalize various road projects spread across the nation. He emphasized that the Niger highway is the fifth major road project of the Tinubu administration, notable for utilizing reinforced concrete pavement and involving the Dangote Group, leveraging the Federal Government’s infrastructure tax-credit initiative.
Umahi outlined that Tinubu’s administration has significantly advanced road construction initiatives in all geopolitical zones, with noteworthy accomplishments in the North-Central region, including the completion of 162 kilometers of roads and bridges totaling 115 meters.
Mansir Ahmed, the Special Adviser to the President of the Dangote Group, expressed the company’s satisfaction in participating through the tax-credit scheme, labeling the highway as a vital economic corridor for Nigeria. He explained that the highway will be constructed using concrete rather than traditional asphalt, with work initiated from multiple locations to speed up progress. The project aims to enhance the transportation of agricultural products, commercial goods, and industrial materials, thereby fostering business and employment opportunities for youth.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago represented the President at the ceremony and highlighted the importance of the highway as a strategic transportation corridor that will bolster connectivity and facilitate the movement of people and goods across the country. He reaffirmed his commitment to rallying significant voter support for Tinubu in the upcoming election, linking this to the Federal Government’s road infrastructure investments in Niger State, and commended the President for endorsing numerous road projects aimed at enhancing transportation and boosting economic activity in the region.
