By Joy Odor
The Senator Representing Niger East, Senator Sani Musa disclosed that the construction of the abandoned Badagry-Sokoto Expressway which links the Northern and Southern part of the country, if constructed, will help his State economically and also sustain the lifespan of Nigeria roads that have become un-motorable.
Senator Sani made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Abuja while contributing to the motion titled: “Need for the construction of the Badagry/Sokoto Expressway to promote economic growth and development, sponsored by Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar (APC, Kwara North) and Co-sponsored by the Deputy Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger North).
Others are: Sani Mohammed Musa (Niger East); Bello Mandiya (Katsina South); Yahaya Ibrahim Oloriegbe, (Kwara Central); Oyelola Yisa Ashiru (Kwara South); Tolulope Akinremi Odebiyi (Ogun West); and Ibikunle Oyelaja Amosun (Ogun Central).
He appealed to the Federal Government, to see how they can mitigate a build-operate-transfer methodology in this, because the road is economically viable.
“I will want to use this opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government, to see how they can mitigate a build-operate-transfer methodology in this, because that road is economically viable.
“We can have investors that are ready to come and invest, to construct that link road between Badagry to Sokoto and then put a toll.
“It will create another economic zone for this country, looking at the fact that a lot of business will be coming in here”, the lawmaker said.
Meanwhile, during his his presentation, Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar noted that the Badagry-Sokoto Expressway is a Federal Government road which connects twelve (12) states which include: Lagos/Badagry, Ogun/Agbara, Oyo/Abeokuta, Kwara, Niger, Kebbi and Sokoto State at the national level, with Benin, Togo and Niger at the International level, in addition to being the Nigeria section of the Trans-West Coastal Highway project to link 12 West African coastal nations.
The lawmaker recalled that the Badagry-Sokoto Expressway was initiated as part of 4th National Development Plan, which was commenced by the General Olusegun Obasanjo regime in 1978, but was abandoned in 1979 – Over 40 years now – after he handed over power to Alhaji Shehu Shagari.
According to him, “the original conception of this expressway was a linkage road between the North and South Nigeria and some West African countries through Seme Border; to ease carriage of goods across the borders as it connects Apapa seaports and Seme land border as well as one of the largest industrial hubs in the country, the Agbara Industrial Estate.”
He further recalled that in 2009, “the Federal Government in collaboration with the Lagos State Government started the reconstruction and expansion of the Lagos-Badagry part of the Badagry-Sokoto expressway, from six (6) to ten (10) lanes, prompting economic development around the area, but the project was abandoned due to lack of fund, thereby affecting these economic activities negatively.”
The lawmaker added that in the same year, the Federal Government in collaboration with the Lagos State Government resumed the reconstruction of the Lagos-Badagry part of the Badagry-Sokoto expressway, adding that, “nothing is being done to construct the rest of the express way.”
Senator Umar assured that the road if constructed, will boost food and agricultural production and connect these rural communities to major urban corridors, a necessary condition for improved agriculture value chain.
The Senate in its resolutions, urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, initiate a Build-Operate-Transfer or Public-Private Partnership arrangement for the construction of the abandoned Badagry-Sokoto Expressway.
It mandated the Committees on Works, Finance and National Planning and Economic Development to jointly inter-face with the Ministry of Works, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and other relevant stakeholders to determine why the Badagry-Sokoto Expressway has been abandoned for such a long time, provide a permanent and sustainable solution/plan and report to the Senate within 2 weeks.
The Upper Chamber also urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, direct the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and Infrastructure Concessioning and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), to urgently initiate a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) or Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for the construction of this most important highway.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, called on the Federal Government to revive the construction of the Badagry-Sokoto Expressway through the initiation of a Public-Private Partnership arrangement with interested investors.
He assured of the National Assembly’s support in providing legislative interventions to safeguard the interests of both the federal government and prospective investors under such arrangement.
