As Nigeria’s longest rigid pavement road project inches closer to completion, motorists travelling from the North to the South in Nigeria have said the road has started supporting vehicular movements across the regions.
The Obajana-Kabba Road in Kogi State is said to be the longest concrete road project in Nigeria.
It is one of the country’s roads that link the North and the South.
A notable businessman from the North, Ibrahim Dantsoho, 40, as well as other motorists commended the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, describing the project as a big relief, saying it has already eased travelling and connectivity across the regions.
The Managing Director of AG-Dangote Construction Company, Ashif Juma, said the project will be completed as planned and that Nigerians would yearn for more of such roads when they see the difference with bituminous road
Juma said so far, 33km earthwork and 22km concrete pavement have been accomplished, adding that every care is being taken to ensure that Nigeria has a most durable road in Nigeria.
He assured: “We will deliver the project by December this year.
“All hands are on deck.”
Juma urged Nigerian governments at all levels to switch over to construction of concrete road instead of asphalt as it is far superior, durable, cheaper and does not require frequent maintenance.
A human rights activist and consultant, Abdullahi A. Umar, 55, who normally travels through Okene in Kogi State, said he now uses the Obajana-Kabba Road.
Umar called on other companies to emulate the Dangote Group.
Motorists hailed Dangote and urged governments at all levels to partner the Dangote Group in road construction.
They called for a timely completion of the project, saying it would make transportation and businesses across the two regions easier.
A statement from the Corporate Communications Department of the Dangote Group said: “Concrete road last longer than asphalt roads and do not have potholes. It does not require frequent maintenance as asphalt roads. It saves fuel for motorists and protects tyres from wear and tears.”
The statement said it is part of the Group’s determination to support government and Nigerians in order to grow the economy and facilitate ease of doing business.
It added that the Obajana-Kabba rigid pavement road project is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility of Dangote Group Plc.
Worried by the huge sum of money used in road repairs, Aliko Dangote had said plans were afoot to revolutionize Nigerian roads with concrete, stressing that resources used in road repairs and maintenance would be channeled to other more important needs of the nation.
“We are going to be building concrete roads in the country so that anytime we build a road, we do not have to go back to repair after the third raining season, but move on and use the resources to address other pressing needs of Nigeria,” Dangote said.
It would be recalled that as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, the Dangote Group had earlier commissioned the 26km Itori-Ibese Concrete Road.
At the commissioning, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, had noted that the stride by the Dangote Group demonstrated the unwavering commitments of an indigenous investor towards the industrialization of Nigeria.
