Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has inaugurated the construction of twin flyover bridges with two roundabouts in Mararaba, Karu Local Government Area of the state, worth N39 billion.

The governor inaugurated the project at Mararaba Gurku community in Karu on Friday.

In his remarks, Mr Sule said the project was the seventh intervention his administration was handling on federal highways across the state.

“It is the biggest intervention of all the federal highways we have worked on, and we are praying that President Bola Tinubu will come and commission it himself when it is completed,” he said.

He assured that the twin flyovers, spanning 2.6 kilometres, will go a long way in reducing traffic congestion along the Mararaba-Keffi corridor of the Abuja-Keffi highway.

He apologised to the people of Karu and Nasarawa State at large for taking his administration six and a half years to commence the construction of the project.

“There are reasons for the delay. This is a federal highway and not a state highway. Secondly, we didn’t have the resources then to do many of these things at the same time.

“This job right now is going to cost us over N39 billion. I came up with a concept of exactly what I was expecting to be done, and we are going to have two flyovers with two roundabouts under the flyovers.

“The first roundabout is going to be right at Abacha Road. After that, we are going to have another roundabout at the Technology Village junction, both at Mararaba Gurku.

“The most important aspect is what we call a highway — right from the beginning of Nasarawa State till the international market, you will be on a highway nobody can cross,” he said.

The governor said that a construction firm, Triacta Nigeria Limited, will handle the project, which is expected to span between 16 to 18 months.

In his welcome remarks, Aliyu Madaki, chairman of Karu Local Government Area, said the project will tackle the persistent traffic gridlock confronting motorists around the Mararaba axis for years.

“This project is a strategic intervention that will redefine mobility and boost economic activities,” he said.

He added that the project, among others, is a testimony to Mr Sule’s administration’s dedication to uplifting Karu Local Government Area and ensuring even development across the state.

He appealed for maximum cooperation from residents of the Mararaba axis to ensure that the project is completed within the timeframe.

In a goodwill message, Esu Karu, Luka Panya-Baba, thanked the governor for inaugurating the project, adding that it was a mark of his visionary leadership.

“This intervention is going to make life very simple for road users and others using this place,” he said.

Earlier, Fersan Daou, regional manager of Triacta Nigeria Limited, appreciated the state government for the confidence in his company over the past 20 years.

He assured that the project would be completed as scheduled.

In October, Nasarawa State government secured approval from the federal government to construct two flyovers in Mararaba to ease persistent traffic congestion in the area.

(NAN)