Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen has enjoined Nigerians to reward President Goodluck Jonathan with a second term mandate in appreciation of his massive transformation of the road sector.
According to Onolememen, the road sector transformation remains one of the Unique Selling Points (USPs) of the Jonathan administration, assuring 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.”
