Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila has sympathised with families of the 11 persons who lost their lives in an auto crash along Kano-Maiduguri federal Highway on Friday.
In a statement he signed, Senator Sumaila expressed grief over the demise of the 11 people, regretting that Kano-Maiduguri road has remained a death trap to many road users.
The over 550 kilometre dualization project was awarded by the Federal Government at the end of the second tenure of the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
Senator Sumaila explained that the importance of this road to Nigerian economy cannot be over empathise as the international link Nigeria with Chad republic, Cameroon, Niger republic and the Central Africa, thereby boosting businesses among the affected countries.
He also said that the road which also connected Kano with Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe and Borno states, is playing a greater role in the economic activities of the states.
Senator Sumaila, however, lamented that despite its importance, the road has claimed several lives due to non-completion of the project.
He said for almost 17 years since the award of the project, a portion of the road particularly from Wudil to Gaya has not been completed.
He said it is regrettable that although over 50 kilometers of this portion of the road have been completed, however, a distance of less than 30 kilometers of the portion has not been completed, thereby causing accidents among motorists.
Sumaila, regretted that the non-completion of the project has compelled traders from within Nigeria and the neighbouring countries to divert their businesses to other states other than Kano.
