Baba, now that you have finally settled in Aso Rock

7. Push Forward Infrastructural Development

You don’t have to be Einstein to figure out that our infrastructures are in a state of great disrepair (at best) or completely obsolete (for worst case scenarios). There is so much work to be done in the following areas.

• Road network: most of the roads across the federation, both Federal and State, are death traps for people who ply them. Many roads are constructed through shady deals which results in roads constructed this year needing another construction next year or at best, maintenance. I will use Adamawa as an example because I have lived here for a while. When leaving or coming into Adamawa, there is this joke among travelers. It is said that as soon as you hit bad roads, you know you are in Adamawa. The road between Numan in Adamawa and Balanga in Gombe is so bad that one cannot help but be sick when travelling. This is because of the uneven movement of cars weaving their ways through seemingly endless potholes. It isn’t until you get to Balanga that you begin to hit good roads. From Gombe down to Abuja, the road is a bit okay but can be better. Their breadth can be wider to make travelling easier. On the other hand, Abuja has very good road network which can also be seen in some parts of Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Enugu, Sokoto, Owerri, Calabar, Uyo, Ogbomosho, Plataeu, Lagos and other states I cannot mention at the moment. You need to replicate this type of good road network ALL OVER Nigeria! This will make Nigeria an investment haven for development. If I know that I can get to Gombe from Adamawa in 3 hours with good roads as compared to the five or six hours it takes now, I will be able to shuttle between Adamawa and Gombe for business and still be back the same day. I am one individual. Imagine what a company will think if they know they can do the same without being hampered by poor roads? I can assure you, interstate business will take off like a G-6. You also need to get state governors to ensure that the intercity roads are all good as this doesn’t just make accessibility easier and invite industrial revolution, it also beautifies the state.