By Mohammed Baba Busu
Lafia – The Nasarawa State House of Assembly’s Committee on Works has appealed to the state government to construct the Awonge bridge linking different communities in Lafia North to other parts of the state.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr Mohammed Okpoku, made the appeal on Wednesday while inspecting the bridge in Lafia North Development Area.
He said that the construction of the bridge would not only reduce the hardship faced by the people in the area, but would also improve on agricultural production and boost the revenue base and socio-economic activities of the people.
The lawmaker lauded Gov. Tanko Al-Makura for the construction of bridges and culverts across the state, saying it would open up rural areas and stimulate agriculture and socio-economic activities.
“After inspecting and assessing the bridge, we learnt that N4 million has been earmarked to construct the bridge with wood.
“But as a committee, we felt that using wood to construct the bridge would not meet standards.
“It is in view of this that we are appealing to Gov. Tanko Al-Makura to construct the Awonge/Barkin Abdullahi bridge to reduce the hardship faced by the people of the area and boost agricultural production,” he said.
He, however, said that the committee would sustain its oversight of ongoing projects in the local government and development areas of the state to ensure that the construction of public facilities met specifications.
The chairman said that the exercise was not meant to witch hunt anybody, adding that the committee was mandated by the house as part of its oversight functions to ensure that quality jobs were done in the interest of peace and development.
Earlier, Hajiya Jummai Iliyasu-Galadima, the Overseer of Lafia North Development Area, said that the council planned to use wood on the bridge due to shortage of funds.
She expressed gratitude to Gov. Al-Makura for the release of funds for construction of bridges and culverts in the state.
The overseer called on the people of the area to continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari and Al-Makura’s administrations to deliver dividends of democracy.
