Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari
ABUJA, Oct 19 (NNN-GNA) — Outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he’s leaving a lasting legacy by delivering high-impact projects across Nigeria.
Buhari who spoke at his last ministerial performance review retreat, highlighted the progress his administration has made in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, economy, and health in line with his administration’s nine-priority agenda.
He said: “In recognition of the importance of critical infrastructure in economic development and the quest of this administration to leave a lasting legacy, we have implemented high-impact projects across the length and breadth of the country that meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.
“Some of the notable achievements include the completion of 326km Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line and railway ancillary facilities; the completion of over 156.5km Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway modernization project with extension to Lagos Port, Apapa.
“On road projects, this Administration has constructed 408Km of roads; 2,499Km of SUKUK roads, and maintenance of 15,961Km of roads across the Country.
“Key among these projects are the construction of 1.9km 2nd Niger Bridge linking Anambra and Delta States with 10.30km approach road; rehabilitation, construction, and expansion of Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan dual carriageway; the ongoing rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna – Zaria – Kano Road, among others.”
Buhari who revealed that his administration embarked on the reconstruction of 21 selected federal roads, totalling 1,804.6km, under the Road Infrastructure Development & Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Policy, added that 941km of completed SUKUK road projects nationwide had been handed over.
In the health sector, the President said 38.7 million Nigerians had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, representing 35 percent of the total eligible population target for.
Voters in Africa’s most populous country are due to go to the polls on Feb 25, 2023, with Buhari stepping down at the end of his second term, as stipulated in the constitution.
18 candidates are vying to become Mohammadu Buhari’s successor and the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Only one woman is among the 18 presidential candidates listed by Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC.
The campaign for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly will start on October,12.
The electoral commission projected that 95 million voters would participate in the February election. Security and economic crises have caused hardship for many of the more than 200 million citizens of Africa’s most populous country.
Despite being one of the continent’s top oil producers, Nigeria is grappling with a 33% unemployment rate and a 40% poverty rate, according to the latest government statistics.
The country has also battled an insurgency by extremist rebels in the northeast, as well as armed violence now spreading across parts of the northwest and southeast regions. — NNN-GNA
