Gov Ishaku flags – off 35km Pamanga Dakka Road
From Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
The Executive Governor of Taraba State, Arc Darius Dickson Ishaku Saturday, officially flagged off construction of 35km Pamanga -Dakka road in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Addressing guests at the occasion of the Flagg – off at Pamanga town, the Governor said the contract for the construction of the long neglected road is awarded to Geld Construction Company at the cost of 10. 3 billion naira and would be completed and commisoned before the end of his tenure.
The governor who said the contract was a fulfilment of part of his campaign promises to the people of the area who voted massively for him in the election that brought him into power, applauded the fertility of the land and other natural resources endowed in the area, pointing out that when the road is completed, it would boost agricultural, social and economic activities of the area.
“Dakka and its environs has fertile land. Their land is such that you don’t need to apply fertilizer before you have bountiful harvest. Am pleased that when this road is completed, it will go along way to boost agricultural and other economic activities. It will increase Socio – economic development and enhance effective security surveillance of this area.
“The road will also serve as a short cut for the people of Genye who had long been getting it rough to access Jalingo, the Taraba State capital”. He added.
The governor who applauded the immediate communities of the project site for cooperating amicably with the contractors, equally 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.
Earlier in his welcome address, the commissioner of Works , Hon. Ibrahim Irmiya Hammanjulde stated that due process was followed in the award of the contract.
The commissioner said the Pamanga – Dakka road has been neglected by the previous administrations untill the coming on board of Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku, noting that the road traverses through several villages and towns including Pamanga to Tunga Dawo, Ganganbana, Ganggobra, Gangpenton, Gangwojida, Shirpo to Dakka among other settlements in the area.
He reaffirmed that the contract would be completed and commissioned before the end of Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku’s administration, maintaining that the Taraba State Government had fulfilled its financial obligations of the contract.
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 including Wukari Tsokundi Road, Mararraba- Baissa- Abong Road which is 82Km and 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 comment, the Chief Engineer, Geld construction company LTD, Engr. Fadi azzam said the company had already finished 21km out of the 35 Km of the road and assured that the company would finished the contract withing the stipulated time.
The Chief Engr appreciated the level of cooperation and mutual relationship the company is recieving from the host community and assured that the company on its side, would continue to maintain its Corporate Social Responsibility throughout the period of the contract.
Also in their separate remarks, the Deputy Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly, Hamman Adamma and the Chairman, Bali Local Government Area, Hon. Musa Mahmud, all appreciated Governor Ishaku for executing numerous projects in Bali LGA and assured the governor of their unalloyed and continuous loyalty to his administration. The chairman, however, appealed to the Governor to rehabilitate Bali General Hospital to improve the health need of the people of the area.
The occasion was graced by many political leaders, religious leaders and traditional Rulers of the state. Highlight of the occasion was the official flag – off of the Pamanga – Dakka road by the governor, play late and cultural display by Taraba State Art Council and cultural dance by the Tiv cultural troupe.
