Kano State Government, yesterday, said it had awarded contract for the construction of 500-kilometre access roads in rural areas across its 44 local governments.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje said this at the inauguration of the construction of Kachako-Jiragi to Tsangaya roads in Garun Malam Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, the project is part of the state government’s Integrated Rural Development Programme, tagged: “Karkara Assalamu Alaikum’’.
Ganduje said when constructed, the roads would provide access to the rural areas to enable farmers move their produce to bigger markets.
“These are areas with large commercial farmers; however, they do not produce food in large quantity due to lack of access roads in the areas.
“We have seen 1,000 inaccessible roads in those areas that can be worked on ; so far, we have commenced with the construction of 500 kilometres of those roads”, he said.
“The provision of the access roads, especially at the rural areas is one of this administration’s priorities.
“Therefore, N160 million has been earmarked for the construction of 12 kilometres of roads in Garun Malam.
“If the road construction is completed, it will also ease the hardship faced by the people of the area, in terms of conveying emergency patients to hospital.
“It will also be easier for the teachers in the remote areas to be at their places of work on time.’’
Ganduje said there was need to provide the people in the rural areas with the necessary infrastructure, to boost the state’s economy.
According to the governor, N50 million has also been earmarked for the repairs of the equipment for the construction, which belong to the state-owned companies handling the projects.