The lawmaker representing Kano South Senatorial District, Senator SumailaKawu,has described the Kano-Maiduguri Federal Highway as a“death trapthat is claiming the lives of its users.”

He made the remarkin a statement he issued tonewsmeninKano,on Sunday on the recent fatal accident that occurred on theroad.

He sympathised with the families of 11persons,who lost their lives in an auto crash along the federalRoad,last Friday.

He said the Federal Government had awarded the contract for the dualisation of the over 550-kilometreroad,at the end of the second tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Sumaila,said the importance of this road to the Nigerian economy could notbe overemphasisedas it links Nigeria with Chad Republic, Cameroon, Niger Republic, and the Central Africa Republic,thereby,boosting businesses among the affected countries.

He also disclosed thatsame roadwhichalso connectsKano with Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, and Borno states,plays agreaterrole in the economic activities of the states.

Kano-Maiduguri is one of the roadsthat isplaying significant roles in the well-being of many Nigerians, therefore, the Federal Government should not joke with it,”Sumaila said.

Despite this importance, however, the lawmakersaid,the road has claimed several lives due to the non-completion of theproject

He said that for almost 17 years since the contract award for the project, a portion of the road, particularly from Wudil to Gaya, has not been completed.

“It is regrettable that although over 50 kilometres of this portion of the road has been completed, a distance of less than 30 kilometres of the portion has not been completed, thereby causing accidents among motorists,”he said.

He also regretted that the non-completion of the project had compelled traders within Nigeria and the neighbouring countries to divert their businesses to states other than Kano.

“Apart from cases of accident, armed robbery has been taking place on this road for several years. I have personally complained to the relevant authorities,yet,the problem persists.

“It isvery sadthat the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the contractor handling the project have failed to complete this project despitethe allocation ofahugeamount of money in the budget. I will continue to pursue the completion of this road,” he added.

He, therefore, appealed to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the contractor handling the project to ensure the completion of the road to save the lives of thepeople.

“This isthe reasonwhy we are fighting for fairness in the budgetary allocations to the six geopolitical zones, but some peoplefortheir selfishinterestsare kicking against our moves.

“With enough budgetary allocations to the geopolitical zones,this kind of project would have been completedin time. It is our duty as members of the National Assembly to channel the plights and yearnings of our constituents to the executive arm of government to do the right thing to improve their well-being.

“One of the surest ways to achieve this is to ensure fairness and equality in budgetary allocations.Thisis the only way projects that have a direct bearing on the lives of thecommon manwillbe executed,” he emphasised. (Tribune)