The minister said in Lagos that the fourth legacy project of the administration stretched from Akwanga to Jos, Bauchi, and Gombe.
Umahi gave the assurance at a stakeholder engagement on the Phase One and Phase Two of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, on Sunday in Lagos.
The minister said that the fourth legacy project was partly funded by the China Exim Bank.
He said: “ Let me first start by discussing the fourth legacy project of Mr President.
“I watched a motion on the floor of the Senate where the motion was alluding that out of the four legacy projects of the President, none is for the North-East.
“We have a fourth legacy project of Mr President that is running from Akwanga. It goes to Jos and from Jos, it goes to Bauchi and to Gombe.
“It is being funded partly by the China Exim bank, but we came to a point of conflict because the president directed that the road should be redesigned on concrete and it should also be six lanes. That is, three lanes per carriageway.
“They said we cannot do three lanes per carriage way; so, we intend to do a public engagement with stakeholders in the North East to discuss.
ALSO READ: Igala Forum Backs ADC's Leke Abejide For Kogi GovernorshipBy Abubakar Yunusa The Igala Leadership Forum (ILF), a distinguished assembly of Igala elites representing all nine local governments, including Bassa, has formally endorsed Hon. Leke Abejide, the gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as the preferred choice for the upcoming Kogi State gubernatorial election.In a collective stance, the Igala group has expressed its concern over the state's prolonged underdevelopment, poverty, and insecurity, attributing these challenges to the lack of competent and honest leadership by successive governors over the past two decades.With a keen desire to bring about a transformative shift in the state's trajectory, the ILF earnestly urges the people of Kogi State to exercise their voting rights judiciously and select the most suitable candidate for the task at hand.The elite forum emphasizes that supporting Hon. Leke Abejide's candidacy aligns with their commitment to stand in solidarity with the people of Kogi West, who have consistently supported the Igala community. The group also takes a critical stance against Usman Jibrin of the Accord party and Muritala Yakubu Ajaka of the SDP, accusing them of leveraging the current Igala situation for personal gains and vendetta. The ILF asserts that such actions have diverted attention from the genuine aspirations of the Igala community, necessitating a redirection and repositioning ahead of future elections.Ibrahim Oma Koji Attah, in a statement on behalf of the ILF, affirms Hon. Leke's friendship and sensitivity towards the Igala community, praising his track record of avoiding reckless statements or derogatory remarks about the largest tribe in the state. Furthermore, Oma-Koji Attah extends a call to other Igala candidates, urging them to foster collaboration and ensure that the historical relationship between the East and the West remains mutually beneficial.The group uses this platform to firmly caution Yahaya Bello against resorting to thuggery during the 2023 elections, asserting that vigilant eyes will be monitoring the process to ensure a fair and just outcome. Additionally, the ILF condemns the continuous misappropriation of workers' salaries by the government and places confidence in the Leke/Omede ticket to address this pressing issue.Meanwhile,the ILF encourages the Igala and Bassa communities to regard the people of Okun as brothers, fostering unity among the regions. The group places responsibility on Igala leaders who have engaged in unscrupulous dealings with Usman Jibrin and Muritala Ajaka, thereby undermining the integrity of the 2023 election process. The ILF firmly maintains that the return of the Ebira community to Lugard House in January 2024 must not be allowed.
“It is either we convince the bank to agree to the directive of Mr President or we agree on four lanes for the two carriageways.’’
The minister emphasised that the four legacy projects were spread across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
Umahi disclosed that each of the legacy projects included a train track.
Umahi said that the Badagry-Sokoto Highway was originally conceived by the Shehu Shagari administration to run from Badagry to Sokoto.
He said that Tinubu decided that it should begin in Sokoto and go down to Badagry.
He said that the road was approximately 1,050km, adding that construction had begun with the first 120km section in Gilela, Sokoto State, using three lanes on each carriageway.
The minister said that the second section, a 258km stretch in Kebbi, was being planned to be expanded into six lanes (three per carriageway).
Umahi said that procurement for the second carriageway of the Badagry-Sokoto Highway was expected to begin in March.
He also said that the Trans-Saharan Highway was progressing from Ebonyi toward Sokoto.
Umahi said that efforts were being made to complete 10km of concrete road in both Sokoto and Kebbi states by mid-May for inauguration.
He highlighted the environmental benefits of using concrete, saying that it emitted less heat and allowed Nigeria to earn carbon credits.
The minister said that the use of solar energy further contributed to earning carbon credits by reducing reliance on diesel. (NAN)
