FEATURE REPORT: ABUJA -KADUNA ROAD IN FOCUS

BABATUNDE FASHOLA

The act of governance and the process of development can never be successful if not collectively planned and executed.

It is not enough for Nigerians to criticize the government of the day without doing anything to contribute to the development of the country.

One cannot help but understand why Nigerians are skeptical about the “CHANGE agenda” of the current administration viewing from the fact that Nigeria is presently facing its toughest moment yet.

Let’s face it, when one of the world’s biggest petroleum source (Nigeria) cannot boast of a steady supply of petroleum at the lowest cost to its citizens nor provide adequate power supply or healthy water, then there is a problem.

Should we talk about the level of insecurity in the country where citizens are not safe in their own land?

What about the issue of basic amenities such as good roads and basic education?

There is no doubt, Nigeria is economically back word, in financial debts and has one of most devalued currencies in the world.

Yet in this dehumanized state, President Muhammadu Buhari through his “CHANGE agenda” says yes, Nigeria can be better.

Now to those who understand the principle and process of development will agree with me that it never happens on steady and smooth grounds.

Development comes with hills and mountains, valleys, pains and crisis.

In an attempt to reduce extreme poverty, the federal government captured in its 2016 budget, the social investment programmes where small scale business would receive the sum of sixty billion naira( N60bn) to stay afloat .

One million Nigerians are also earmarked to receive N60,000 each as soft loan from the micro credit scheme with 500,000 graduates to be recruited and trained to become teachers by the federal government among many other priorities.

It is in this light that the federal government through the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, revealed on Tuesday, February 28th, that it has completed some major repair works on Abuja/Kaduna highway as it shifts all attention to repairing and maintaining the Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Thus, Nigerians also need to step up as far as the issue of road maintenance is concerned.

It is one thing for the government to execute a project and it is another thing to ensure that such a project is being managed properly.

For motorists around the country, did you know that winter tyres especially those ones from the USA, Canada and Europe do more harm than good to our roads?

How have you helped maintained our roads as you ply on them daily?

Due to the poor maintenance culture by both the government and Nigerians, our roads are not only damaged they are a major reason why many Nigerians have lost their lives.

Making Nigeria a developed Nation is our collective efforts and not the government alone

Culled from The Sheet