By BASHIR RABE MANI

Rep. Ibrahim Al-Mustapha (APC-Sokoto) says the Federal Government has earmarked N19 billion for the rehabilitation of the 81km road leading to the ancestral town of the late Premier of Northern Nigeria and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello.

Al-Mustapha, who represents Wurno/Rabah Federal Constituency, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that the road would cover Rabah junction to Rabah town and link Bakura town to Bakura junction.

He said that the road, which was constructed 3r years ago, had never been repaired, adding that it has been dilapidated for over 20 years.

“No fewer than 32 communities across Sokoto and Zamfara States are using the road and for that long time they have been suffering.

“The people of these communities that are largely agrarian could not therefore transport their farm produce to the markets.

“Their routine socioeconomic activities have also been truncated and they are in extremely difficult times,” said the legislator.

Al-Mustapha disclosed that it was out of his concern about the sorry state of the road that he moved a motion on the floor of the House calling for urgent attention.

He said: “Thank God, the Hon. House resolved to call on the federal government to rebuild the road.

“I followed it up and I can gladly tell you that as at today, the work has commenced.”

The lawmaker said that a N1.2 billion contract had since been awarded by the federal government for the execution of emergency repair works on the road.

Al-Mustapha explained that the emergency works would cover the most dilapidated portions of the road, adding that the project will be completed in 2023.

He also said that ecological fund projects worth N560 million had been executed in Wurno, Rabah, Marina, Rarah, Gidan Buwai and Achida towns.

“The projects are for land and soil reclamation and they include drainages, roads, culverts and many other concrete works,” he said.

Al-Mustapha further stated that other constituency projects were executed in the constituency, including the construction of seven primary classroom blocks.

According to him, payment of stipends to students of tertiary institutions, purchase of UTME forms and training of the candidates are some of the impactful constituency services he provided.

He listed other projects as electrification, distribution of empowerment materials, water pumping and sewing machines. (NAN)

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