The Senate says it will include the Anyigba-Dekina-Shintaku road in the Kogi-East Senatorial District under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund projects of the Bola Tinubu administration.

This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Isah Jibrin (APC-Kogi East) at plenary on Wednesday.

Mr Jibrin, in his motion, said this had become necessary because it links communities in Lokoja, the Federal Capital Territory, and the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones.

He expressed concern that the road had been in a deplorable state, with most motorists taking the longer Lokoja-Ajaokuta-Anyigba route.

The lawmaker said the Federal Executive Council had, at its meeting held in January 2022, approved the award of the contract for the road reconstruction.

“The then Federal Ministry of Works and Housing awarded the contract to Tech Engineering Company Nigeria Limited on February 3, 2022.

“But the contract was recently revoked due to delays in execution by the contractor and has not yet been re-awarded,” he said.

Mr Jibrin said the federal government’s innovative approach to infrastructure development, through special funding, such as Sukuk bonds, was a credible alternative funding mechanism for the road project.

Corroborating Mr Jibrin’s submission, the Senate chief whip, Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), suggested the inclusion of the road in the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund projects of the president.

The Senate, thereafter, urged the Federal Ministry of Works to consider the use of a special-purpose fund for the completion of the road.

It also urged the ministry to provide toll gates at both ends of the road upon completion to generate revenues.

The Senate said this would help defray the cost of constructing the road and provide sufficient funds for its maintenance.

(NAN)