The Federal Government of Nigeria has revealed that another highly- valuable 2.055km Loko-Oweto Bridge which is over River Benue and 74- kilometre Nasarawa-Loko Road linking Nasarawa and Benue State road are ready for commissioning in the next few weeks.
Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who disclosed this at the PMB Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023) on Thursday, said the road, the bridge are a game changer and economy- booster for the two states in particular and the nation in
general.
The Minister who mocked the critics of the Administration, saying they won’t talk about this milestone but how it has done well in the area of infrastructure, but not fared well in the area of economy, pointed out that the statements like this are borne out of ignorance.
Adding that, “This is because infrastructure is a key driver of economic development, meaning that when you are building modern infrastructure as this Administration is doing, you are actually putting in place the building blocks of economic and social development.
“When you are constructing roads and bridges, you create jobs as you will employ workers, you trigger economic activities as you will buy sand, granite, cement and other construction materials, you create a mini-economy around construction site as food sellers and others converge there to cater to the needs of the workers”.
Alhaji Mohammed illustrated further that the Nasarawa-Loko Road and Loko-Oweto Bridge infrastructures alone have cut the journey from the Eastern part of the country to Abuja by three hours. “Travellers coming from Enugu to Abuja today, who have no business in Lafia, can come straight to Abuja via Keffi, thereby saving three hours as a result of the completion of this bridge and its access road.
“Also, the 74-kilometre road linking Loko to Keffi used to take about 3 hours because it was an earth road. Today, however, with the completion of the road, the same journey takes only 30 minutes. With the saying that time is money, you can then imagine the economic implication of the time saved.
“Secondly, the road and the bridge
projects came with the electrification of the communities around there. The provision of electricity means more economic activities for the people and, of course, more jobs.
“Thirdly, the communities traversed by these facilities, which are agrarian and fishing communities, have received economic boost and reduction in waste as they can more easily evacuate their products and also preserve them.
“And lastly, the communities, now provided with better access through the road and the bridge, are witnessing an increase in mining activities, farming, fishing, trading, etc. The Nasarawa-Loko Road and the Loko-Oweto Bridge are clear testimonies to role of infrastructure in economic and social development.
The Minister noted that through its massive infrastructure development that cuts across the entire country, the Buhari Administration is building, block by block, a new Nigeria, fostering economic and social development and catalysing shared prosperity. “With the Nasarawa-Loko Road and the Loko-Oweto Bridge completed, another legacy of the Buhari Administration is assured”.