Kebbi state governor, Nasir Idris,on Tuesday flagged off 7.23bn road construction in Argungu town.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Argungu, Argungu Local Government Area, Gov. Idris said the money covered road construction, drainage system and installation of solar street lights.
The governor said: “Today we are in your domain to fulfil part of our campaign promises. I am glad to state that we have fulfilled 50 to 60 per cent of our campaign promises.
“We want our local government headquarters to look like any other LG headquarters in other states.”
While assuring that government had already mobilised the contractor to the site with 40 per cent down payment of the contract sum, the governor said money for the project has been kept aside.
“We don’t award contract unless we have the money at hand, because we don’t want to leave any abandoned project in this government, therefore, all projects ongoing must be completed.”
He pledged to commence renovation of Argungu General Hospital next week and equip it with state-of-the-art facilities, adding that construction of rural roads linking several villages would also commence.
“It is not only renovation but we are going to supply the hospital with modern equipment and more doctors will be deployed to the hospital.
“This administration is not only executing projects, I am glad to say we are not owing any worker salary or gratuity, we are also paying WAEC and NECO exams fees for all our graduating students as well as payment of scholarship to students both within and outside Nigeria,” he said.
The governor encouraged farmers in the state to embrace dry season farming to recoup what was lost to flood disaster that ravaged some parts of the state.
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In his speech, the Honourable Commissioner for Works, Engr. Abdullahi Faruq-Muslim said the 6.4 kilometer dual carriageway township road was awarded to Amirco Universal Concept at the cost of N7,230,373,515.
The commissioner lauded the governor for choosing a qualified construction company to execute the project, which has 12 months completion period.
He listed some projects executed by the present administration to include; completion of dualised Birnin Kebbi – Ambursa road and completion of a multi-billion Naira ultra-moderm secretariat complex.
Others according to him, are; renewal and dualisation of Birnin Kebbi township roads to give the state capital a befitting outlook, construction of a new motor park in the state capital which would soon be commissioned as well as construction of an Aeroplane filing station at Sir Ahmadu International Airport.
“Construction of this aero filing station motivated the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to approve the inaugural flagg-off of 2024 pilgrims airlift from Birnin Kebbi to Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammadu-Mera, Emir of Argungu, lauded the state governor for finding Argungu worthy of the project.
He thanked the present administration for spreading projects across Argungu emirate.
The Monarch also on behalf of other traditional rulers in the state thanked the governor for the care and concern being accorded to traditional institutions across the state.
The Emir used the occasion to present a silver sword to the governor symbolising conferment of a traditional title of “Jigon Kabi”.
On its part, the contractor handling the project, Amirco Universal Concept promised to complete the project within six months instead of 12 months.
