Tinubu’s reconstruction of Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road fulfilment of campaign promise, says Uba Sani
President Bola Tinubu has flagged off the 122-kilometre Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road reconstruction.
Speaking on Tuesday in Kaduna, Uba Sani, governor of the state, said the reconstruction is fulfilment of the president’s campaign promise to the people of the state.
Sani, who represented Tinubu at the event, said the road will connect the north-west to the south-west.
He added that the road cuts across five states up to Lagos, adding that N178 billion has been approved for the project.
According to Sani, Tinubu paid a visit to Birnin Gwari against security advice, during a campaign stop in Kaduna in December 2022.
He said at the time, Birnin Gwari was the epicentre of banditry, kidnapping and insurgency.
“As someone who was aspiring to be president of Nigeria, he must visit Birnin Gwari,” Sani recalled.
“The then GOC of 1 Mechanised Division, the late general Taoreed Lagbaja, gave us 21 armoured vehicles with military personnel to Birnin Gwari.
‘’We left Kaduna at about 4pm; we arrived at Birnin Gwari after four and a half hours because the road was bad and we got there around 8:30pm. At the emir’s palace, His royal highness graciously honoured the presidential candidate with a traditional title.”
The president had vowed to reconstruct the road from Mando in Kaduna to Birnin Gwari, promising to ensure that security and normalcy returned to the community.
“Today, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fulfilled both promises he made to the people of Birnin Gwari. I’m happy that we are here for the ground breaking of this very important road,’’ Sani added.
The governor noted that people can now travel from Kaduna to Birnin Gwari and within the town without police escort.
“Today, Kaduna state government is constructing 36 kilometres of asphaltic roads, cutting across 72 farming communities in Birnin Gwari local government area,’’ he added.
According to him, “President Tinubu has a special love for Kaduna state; that is why, on the 8th of July, he approved $865 million for the construction of the light rail project in Kaduna metropolis”.
“The Western by-pass project is ongoing, from Abuja junction down to Kawo motor park. This project is being undertaken by the federal ministry of works under the able leadership of the President,” he added.
‘’We are also talking about resuming the construction of the Eastern by-pass, which is very critical to our people. I have no doubt that the project will resume, according to my conversation with the minister, in a few months’ time.
“We are grateful to Mr President. We will continue to support him, and I do not doubt in my mind that the 2027 election has been concluded. We are giving the President at least 95% of our votes.”
Earlier, David Umahi, minister of works, described Tinubu as a promise-keeper.
Umahi said he is not surprised at Sani’s “developmental strides” in Kaduna state because of his affiliation with Tinubu during the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) struggle.
“You understand the meaning of democracy. You understand the meaning of welfare to the people. You have united the entire Kaduna people. You are delivering a lot of infrastructure for the people,” the minister said.
Addressing Sani, he said: “You are magical like your father, the president. I commend you very highly, and I thank you for uniting the entire Kaduna people. ”
