Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State

Nasarawa State Government has spent over N1 billion on the construction of major bridges in the state within the last two years.

Alhaji Ahmed Yahaya-Wada, Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport stated this in Lafia on Tuesday while giving the scorecard of the Governor Umaru Al-Makura-led administration.

Yahaya-Wada said the construction of the bridges linking several communities had opened up the state and eased the transportation of both persons and goods, especially farm produce thereby boosting the economic wellbeing of the people.

He said the government had constructed over 300kms of asphalt roads across all the headquarters of the 13 local government areas of the state in line with its urban renewal policy.

He added that the rural areas had also been given attention through the construction of roads, drains and culverts to ease transportation and check erosion ravaging parts of the state.

According to the commissioner, construction of the alternative road linking Lafia to Abuja through Abaji has started.

He explained that the 65km first phase of the project from the ongoing Lafia airport site through Bassa-Kokona-Keffi have begun in earnest while the feasibility study for the second phase to Abaji has been done.

Yahaya-Wada said when completed, the road would shorten the journey from Lafia to Abuja by about 70kms.

He said the preliminary cost of the project was put at about N15 billion considering the challenging terrain and the quality of the road. It includes bridges and drains

“A lot of traffic is anticipated on the road when completed. We have to ensure the best standard

“This road would link the Lafia airport, which we believe would become the alternative airport to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja given the proximity”, Yahaya-Wada said.

(NAN)