Sen. Usman Lawal Adamu (Kaduna Central) who sponsored the motion noted that Abuja/Kaduna expressway needs urgent attention.
He said the Abuja-Kaduna road is one of the most important roads that leads into the North West, part of North Central and the North East geopolitical region of the country. “The road is not only a link into FCT, but connect Nigerians from the North to the South”.
Sen. Lawal Adamu expressed concerns that the delay in the completion of the road is worrisome, noting it has hindered socio economic activities between the South, FCT and the various part of the country.
Seconding the motion, Sen. Adamu Alero hinted that the construction of Abuja-Kaduna road was awarded as a limited rehabilitation for N150bn, and later made a full construction project for N850bn.
He noted that two other projects awarded along with the Abuja-Kaduna road, one is completed while the second is 85% completed.
But for the delay and abandonment of the Abuja-Kaduna road, Sen. Adamu Alero, former minister of FCT, said insecurity has been the issue as bandits, terrorist, and herdsmen have taken over the road.
Sen. Adams Alero who noted that funds was never a constraints, except insecurity, said it is only the presence of security personnel that will enable the contractors to mobilize to the site.
While observing that the road has indeed become a theater of kidnapping, arm-robbery and all forms of criminal activities, the Senators were of the opinion that serious attention should be given to it.
Deputy Senate President, Sen Jubrin Barau noted that the Abuja-Kaduna road is vital, and critical to the entire northern Nigeria and their businesses and economic set up.
“The fact that the road is bad has made criminal to attack commuters”, he added.
The Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio referred to the road as a “major arteries of the lives of all, not just those in the FCT”. He commend the security force, as it was said that the high spate of attacks on the road has reduced drastically because of the heavy presence of security personnel.
The Senate adopted the prayers amongst others to include, mandating the Senate Committee on Works (when constituted) to engage the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Ministry of Finance and FERMA to investigate all funds released for the project, call on the contractors to quickly mobilize to the site, call on the security agencies to deployed personnel on the road in order to curb the criminalities and mandate the legislative Committee to ensure compliance.
