The Senate has urged the Federal Government to include the North East region in its Super Highway projects while commending President Bola Tinubu for the N4.2 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway initiative. The call followed a motion moved by Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central) during a plenary session.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a 700-kilometer transformative road project, connects Victoria Island in Lagos to Calabar in Cross River State, traversing seven states along Nigeria’s coastline. However, Senator Goje expressed concern that the North East region was largely excluded from the massive road infrastructure plan.
In his motion titled “Federal Government’s Approval of N4.2 Trillion for Construction of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and Other Road Projects Nationwide,” Goje noted that out of the N4.2 trillion allocated for road projects, only N19 billion was earmarked for the rehabilitation of two roads in the North East.
Key Points from the Motion:
- The North East was allocated only two projects: the Yola-Fufore-Gurin Road in Adamawa State (N11.81 billion) and the Lamido Road in Taraba State (N7.68 billion).
- Several critical roads in the North East, such as the Bauchi-Gombe Road, Biu-Gombe Road, Potiskum-Gombe Road, and Yola-Mubi Road, remain in deplorable condition and require urgent rehabilitation.
- The North East is the only zone not connected to the Super Highway Project initiated by the Tinubu administration.
Senator Goje commended President Tinubu for the coastal road projects, which aim to improve connectivity, road safety, and economic growth. However, he stressed the need for the North East to be included in the Super Highway projects to ensure equitable development across the country.
Senate’s Resolution:
The Senate amended Goje’s motion to urge the Federal Government to approve the rehabilitation of all deplorable roads across the country, rather than focusing solely on the North East. During the debate, several senators highlighted the poor state of federal roads in their constituencies and called for urgent intervention.
Clarifications from Senator Adeola:
Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, clarified that the N4.2 trillion allocation was specifically for the Badagry-Sokoto and Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway projects. He added that an additional N500 billion had been set aside for the rehabilitation of existing roads nationwide, ensuring no zone was excluded.
Senate President’s Remarks:
Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized the need for a comprehensive road maintenance strategy to address the deplorable state of roads across Nigeria. He praised the Tinubu administration for taking bold steps to tackle the infrastructure deficit, noting that previous administrations had failed to address the issue effectively.
