The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said the Federal Government is fully committed to improving road transport infrastructure and the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
He said this will create jobs and prosperity to lift people out of poverty.
Speaking at the handover of completed Nnenwe – Uduma – Uburu road section i (26.27km) and section ii: Spur to Ishiagu – mile 2 road (14km) in Enugu/Ebonyi states on Thursday, December 2, 2021, Onu said the government is satisfied with the commitment to the development of quality infrastructure in the country, pointing out the commitment is now manifesting and yielding positive fruits.
He said the 40.27-kilometre road is a critical component of the national road network built to the highest quality of design and workmanship and, if well used, should last for the designed service life.
Onu urged road users to desist from practices that may lead to the degradation, abuse and unsafe usage of the roads and report non-civil use of the roads to the relevant authorities.
“Overloading vehicles and trucks accelerate pavement damage, spilling of petroleum products dissolve all the components and allows water to penetrate. Converting the road shoulders to permanent parking places that cause road failure from the shoulder. These are all forms of road abuse,” he said.
The minister saluted MSMEs, who he described as “the heart of the Nigerian economy and drivers of economic growth. The road is also a story of the capacity of patriotic Nigerians, suppliers employed indirectly and others responsible for providing the machines utilised in the construction.
“These are not only nation-builders we offer our salutation. They are the heart of the Nigerian economy, the micro, small and medium enterprises that drive our economic growth.”
Onu further said that the road is also a statement of economic efficiency and ease of doing business. According to him, the road is part of many roads to prosperity because reduced journey time means reduced expense on travel.
Earlier, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, represented by the ministry’s director, Federal Highway Southeast, Engr. Bola Aganaba said that more projects have been commissioned in various parts of the country.
He added that they represent investments in road transport infrastructure, a major driver of economic growth and prosperity, as targeted by the Federal Government.
In a goodwill message by the governor of Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, represented by the state commissioner of Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Gregory Nnaji commended the developmental efforts of the Federal Government and pledged the state’s desire for a partnership to deliver the dividends of democracy to his people.
He also urged the benefiting communities to protect the critical infrastructure as it has become their responsibility to guard.
