Babatunji Wusu –
The Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna has notified residents of the general regions of Mando, Tsamiya, Kauya, and Afaka of an impending shooting practice.
The Nigerian Army asked the locals not to panic over the drill, which was specifically planned for the Army cadets of the 71 Regular Course at the esteemed military university, in a statement released on Monday.
The statement stresses that there is no need for concern but also advises people not to visit the approved firing range while the exercise is underway, which is set to take place from January 9 to February 2, 2024.
“The Nigerian Defence Academy wishes to inform the general public, especially inhabitants of Mando, Tsamiya, Kauyd and Afaka general area, that it will be conducting a Range Management Package for Army Cadets of 71 Regular Course.
“The exercise is scheduled to be held between 9 January to 2 February 2024 at NDA Open Range Afaka. The NDA assures the general public that all necessary safety measures have been put in place for the successful conduct of the exercise.
“However, we advise the general public to avoid trespassing in the general area throughout the period of the exercise,” The statement noted.
Abuja-Kaduna Road To Be Completed This Year – FG
Concurrently, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its pledge to complete the unfinished portion of the Abuja-Kaduna road by the end of 2024.
Since the contract began on December 20, 2018, the government has experienced delays despite multiple prior commitments to finish the project.
Then-Minister of State for Works and Housing, Umar El-Yakub, said in October 2022 that construction on the Zaria-Kano road and the Kaduna-Abuja highway would be completed early in 2023. The goal of this completion was to make things easier for drivers.
In addition, former Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola admitted in April 2023 that the administration had fallen short of its original commitment.
He mentioned several major obstacles, including the necessity to move people in the Zaria phase of the 265km road project and security concerns in 2022.
The current Minister of Works, David Umahi, promised that clearing contractual obstacles will guarantee the project’s completion before the end of 2024 in a recent meeting with the ministry’s directors in Abuja.
He declared, “The ministry is prepared to overcome all contractual challenges and guarantee project delivery for Nigerians.”
Umahi, the former governor of Ebonyi State, added that in order to properly finance the project, the contractors had asked for a revision to the project’s budget, raising it to N1.3 billion.
Umahi said, “We have about 1.7 kilometers left of Abuja-Kaduna in two sections. The ministry has some supervision work to be done tomorrow on that road and we will be advised on the real designs of the two sections.
“Funding is also an issue because it is under the presidential development fund initiative gotten from looted funds. I have had to discuss with Mr president about the importance of the road for all Northerners.
“But I won’t be able to go back to him until we re-scope it because the project was N165bn before and a review brought the cost to N655bn but today the contractor is asking for N1.35trillion and the government cannot afford it.
“What they are asking is very wrong. So we are looking at existing sub-grade and see what we can do about it. We are also looking at the first 40km to be constructed by Dangote under the Tax credit scheme to do it on concrete pavement but I am very committed to completing that road this year. No matter what happens, that road will be done this year.”
Three parts of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway rehabilitation are being handled by Julius Berger and are being funded by the Presidential Development Fund projects.
