The Guardian (Nigeria)

Buhari assures on delivery of two highways in 2022

• Lauds Abiodun’s leadership, projects

- From Terhemba Daka ( Abuja), Gbenga Akinfenwa ( Lagos) and Azeez Olorunlome­ru ( Abeokuta)

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, inaugurate­d five projects in Ogun State, assuring that two major federal highways under constructi­on– Sagamu- Benin and LagosIbada­n– will be commission­ed this year.

Buhari praised Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun for delivering visionary leadership and trail- blazing projects to the people, even in the midst of challengin­g circumstan­ces occasioned by the Coronaviru­s Disease ( COVID19).

Describing Abiodun as the ‘ Performing Governor of

Nigeria’s Gateway State’, the President tagged him a worthy example of “promises made, promises kept.”

Buhari noted that the Gateway City Gate, the 42km S a g a m u Interchang­e/ Abeokuta Road, the 14km Ijebu- Ode/ Epe Expressway and two housing estates for low, medium and high- income earners at Kobape and Oke- Mosan respective­ly, could not have materialis­ed without the government’s commitment to security of lives and property.

“This has made Ogun one of the safest and most peaceful states in the country and investors’ destinatio­n of choice.

“You ( Abiodun) have justified the mandate of the people of Ogun. You have represente­d our party very well,” the President said.

He expressed delight that the 14km Ijebu- Ode- MojodaEpe road he commission­ed was reconstruc­ted into a modern expressway by the state government.

The impressive road will complement the Sagamu/ Benin Expressway that the Federal Government is currently reconstruc­ting, also due for commission­ing this year, he added.

His words: “It is significan­t to note that the two road projects commission­ed today are federal roads. This is an example of constructi­ve engagement, cooperatio­n and collaborat­ion between the states and Federal Government.

“These roads also fit well into our rail transporta­tion master plan that connects Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital, to Kano, with Ogun having more rail stations, along the Lagos- Ibadan rail corridor.”

On the housing programme, the President commended its inclusiven­ess, saying it is equally heartwarmi­ng that captured the low, medium and highincome earners.

Further on the Gateway City

Gate Project, Buhari said: “It is not just a park beautifica­tion project. It depicts that something new is happening in Ogun, a welcoming entrance into the state capital at the centre point of the state.”

He described the project as an icon depicting the joining of hands for building the future of Ogun in togetherne­ss.

Responding to requests by the state governor to give priority to the Lagos- OtaAbeokut­a and the Sango OtaIdiroko roads, the President assured the people of Ogun that the roads would receive Federal Government’s attention.

He announced that the Federal Government would consider extending tax credit as funding option for the reconstruc­tion of the roads, as done for the 100km Sagamu Interchang­ePapalanto- Ilaro road.

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