BY A.M. Nasiru
The Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo ably represented by His Deputy, His Excellency Comr Joel Salifu Oyibo has flagged-off the construction work of Abache – Okenyi link road in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The project which is solely facilitated by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives who doubles as the member representing Ankpa Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims is being executed through the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with an intended completion period of four weeks.
The Governor in his inaugural address before cutting the tape described rural access roads as significant, important and economically of great benefits to not just the people of the benefiting communities but the entirety of potential beneficiaries of its social and agricultural impact.
Elder Joel Salifu who was holding sway for the Kogi State Governor added that the All Progressives Congress is very proud of the sterling performance of Rep. Halims. He congratulated the people for having such a humane leader as their representative and further revealed that the road when completed would birth a drastic improvement in the livelihood of the communities where the road is passing through.
Rep. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims in his remarks noted that apart from being duty bound by his oath of office to attract meaningful development to his constituency, He is a son of Okenyi by marriage and will ensure that the best engineering standards are deployed on site for a long lasting project.
On his part, the Caretaker Chairman of Ankpa Local Government, Hon. Mohammed Yahaya Ademu commended the Federal Lawmaker for his several infrastructure developments across the three Local Government Areas of his jurisdiction. He reminded the gathering that, the project is a testament of Rep. Halims’ earlier promise to do more when he flagged off the installation of about three hundred units of solar powered street lights in February this year.
Also, the Executive Director of Anino Construction Limited, the Company handling the contract, Mr E. P. Onyido ably represented by Engr. Emmanuel thanked the IAP and indeed, Rep Halims for the opportunity given to their company to handle the project, stating that it was an indication that their expertise in handling such projects are highly recognised. He therefore appealed to stakeholders and residents of the benefiting communities to give them maximum co-operation in a bid to get the job delivered in good time.
Earlier in his brief remarks at the flagging off ceremony, a community Leader of Okenyi, Mallam Hassan Oguche thanked the facilitator of the project on behalf of Abache, Umogu and Odolu communities. He noted that the economic significance of the road cannot be overemphasized adding that the benefiting communities shall not take the gesture for granted.
