As the nation inches closer to the general elections scheduled for
February 14 and 28, Minister of Works, Architect Mike Onolememen has
called on Nigerians to appreciate the massive transformation in the road
sector under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and reward him
with a second term mandate as president.
Describing the road sector transformation as one of the Unique Selling
Points (USPs) of the Jonathan administration, Onolememen said that the
administration would build more road infrastructure and improve greatly on
its verifiable records of achievements in the years ahead.
He said in a statement in Abuja that there were solid reasons Nigeria
should vote en-masse for President Jonathan, pointing out that his
administration’s intervention has not only transformed “our roads from
‘death traps’ but also to a motoring pleasure comparable to what obtains
in the developed world.”
According to him, “major arterial roads have been completely
rehabilitated-133 no. road projects equitably distributed in the six
geo-political zones awarded, 62 completed and impressive progress recorded
on others.
“The transformation agenda in the road sector, aimed at linking the six
geo-political zones of our country with dual carriageways and providing
safer roads, is on course.”
Onolememen stated that 25,000kms (about 70%) of federal roads are now
motorable compared to 4,500kms (16%) at the inception of the Jonathan
administration.
He said movement of people, goods and services were now easier through the
federal roads across the country, adding that this had contributed to
social wellbeing and economic growth.
“Accidents and carnage on our roads have been significantly reduced, with
improved federal roads since President Jonathan’s administration, while
travel times from origins to destinations have been drastically reduced,”
he stated.
The minister added, “transport fares have been slashed across our country
by operators who acknowledged that ‘the roads are now better’ and cost of
fueling and maintenance of vehicles have also diminished, with positive
impact on production costs.”
He listed major bridges that are being constructed to enhance economic
development and social integration in the country to include Second River
Niger Bridge in Anambra and Delta States, Loko – Oweto Bridge in Nasarawa
and Benue States, New Ikom Bridge in Cross Rivers State, and Bodo-Bonny
Bridge in Rivers State.
He promised that all ongoing projects shall be completed to move country
forward, stressing that the aim of the President Jonathan administration
for embarking on the reform in the road sector is to make “our roads
better and safer sustainably.”