Okerafor Athanatius, Jalingo.
Taraba Governor, Darius Ishaku has officially flagged-off a 35 kilometre Pamanga-Dakka Road project in Bali Local Government Area of the State.
Speaking during the ceremony held weekend at Pamanga village, Ishaku said the Project was awarded to a Road Construction Firm, GELD Construction Ltd. to the tune of 10.3 billion Naira.
The Governor, who told the gathering that the Project would be completed and commissioned in December, 2022 said the gesture was in fulfilment of his campaign promises to the people of the area, who massively voted for him in 2015.
Ishaku added that during his maiden speech on 29th May, 2015, after taking oath of office, he presented to the people of the State a blueprint agenda, (Rescue Mission) which according to him was an all encompassing development plan to deliver the State from social economic backwardness.
“In a bid to fulfil my Campaign promises to the good people of Taraba State, my government decided to embark on massive road construction among other infrastructure as a solution to the development of the State and a measure to enhance security surveillance being very conscious of a fact that a good road is a catalyst to other facet of development”, he said.
He pointed out that when the road is completed, it would boost agricultural, social and economic development and enhance effective security surveillance of the area.
Ishaku, further lauded the efforts of the immediate communities of the project site for cooperating peacefully with the Contractors,
He also expressed satisfaction with the level of commitment of the contractor handling the project and urged the engineers to maintain strict compliance with the set standard of the project.
In his address of welcome, the State Commissioner, Ministry of Works, Hon. Irmiya Ibrahim Hammanjulde said the Pamanga–Dakka road has been neglected by the previous administrations untill the coming on board of Governor Ishaku.
Irmiya disclosed that the road passed through several villages and towns including Pamanga to Tunga Dawo, Ganganbana, Ganggobra, Gangpenton, Gangwojida, Shirpo to Dakka among other settlements in the area.
The Commissioner, who pledged the completion of the Project before the end of Governor Ishaku’s tenure revealed that the State government has fulfilled its financial obligations to the Contractor.
Hon. Hammanjulde noted that Governor Ishaku’s administration, through the Ministry of Works had funded and completed so many other road projects a across the State.
Some of the Roads projects he mentioned were, Wukari Tsokundi Road, Mararraba- Baissa- Abong Road, Construction of 18Km Dual Carriageway from the N.Y.S.C Permanent Orientation Camp along Wukari road to the City Gate at Pantinapu along Yola road.
In his remarks, the Chief Engineer GELD Construction Company Ltd, Fadi Azzam lauded the Taraba State government for finding them worthy to handle the project.
Engr. Azzam also applauded the mutual cooperation the Company has enjoyed from the host communities since inception and assured not only doing a perfect work but would complete the project within the stipulated time.
“Out of 35 kilometre road project, we have done 21km”, he said.
Cultural Dances from various communities in the area and performances from the State Cultural Troupe added colour to the event.
