FOUR MONTHS TO GO, KEBBI GOVT. AWARDS N5.67 BN CONTRACT, RELEASES N895 MILLION FOR SCHOOL FEES.
FROM : AYODELE AJOGE, BIRNIN-KEBBI.
In less than four months to the end of his tenure as Kebbi State Governor, the Kebbi State government has awarded a N5.67 billion contract for the dualization of Birnin Kebbi /Argungu road in Birnin -Kebbi Local Government Area of the state.
The State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Abubakar Chika-Ladan, signed the contract agreement onbehalf of the government with the Contractor Company, Habibu Engineering Nigeria Limited, Friday in Birnin-Kebbi.
"We are here to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the road contract awarded by Gov. Atiku Bagudu of the State for the dualization of some portion of Birnin Kebbi- Argungu road.
" The road is from NNPC mega station in Birnin Kebbi up to the junction leading to Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Ambursa area along Birnin Kebbi- Argungu road.
“The project is eight kilometer road and is expected to be completed within 12 months” he said.
The Commissioner said further that the road project was an indication of the commitment of the State government to uplift the well being of the people of the state adding that when completed, it will ease transportation problems faced by the people coming to the state capital, especially as the state is developing and will also give the capital a befitting look.
In his remarks, the General Manager of the Company, Mr. Ammar Nouri assured that the project would be executed on schedule according to specification.
In another development, Governor Bagudu has approved the release of N895m for the payment of tuition and registration fees to 27,039 Kebbi indigenes studying in various tertiary institutions across the Country for the year 2021/2022 academic season.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry for Higher Education, Alhaji Abdulmumin Abdullahi, made this known while briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.
Abdullahi recalled that the governor on July 2, 2022 also approved the sum of N907 million for payment of 2019/2020 academic session registration fees for the students.
"So also on September 22, 2022, the governor graciously approved the sum of $349,150 US dollars to cover second year tuition, accommodation, feeding and modest pocket money for 116 State sponsored students studying in three notable universities in India.
"This is in addition to N4.605 million to cater for logistics and transportation of sponsored students transfered from Global University in India.
"Additionally, on November 17, 2022, the governor also granted an approval of N120.1 million to cover change of institution for Kebbi state sponsored MBBS training from Sudan to Egypt". He explained.
Abdullahi enjoined all students to reciprocate the gesture by facing their studies with all seriousness so as to become useful members of the society and the country at large.