Atiku Pledges to Prioritise Rehabilitation of Nigeria’s Economic Corridors

By Nafiu Muhammad Lema

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to make the rehabilitation and maintenance of Nigeria’s critical economic corridors a national priority if elected President.

Atiku made the commitment in a response to a Facebook user, Hassan Yakubu, who urged him to include the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s deteriorating roads in his policy blueprint.

Yakubu, who said he had moved goods across the country, highlighted several major economic corridors, including Numan–Jalingo, Dukku–Darazo, Dikko–Minna, Pambegua–Zaria, Akwanga–Jos, Abuja–Lokoja, Bida–Lapai, Kontagora–Makera, East–West Road, Onitsha–Owerri, Abeokuta–Ibadan, Benin–Ore and Benin–Auchi.

He argued that the poor condition of the roads was increasing transportation costs, vehicle maintenance expenses and travel times, with the burden ultimately passed on to consumers through higher prices.

Responding, Atiku said he understood the impact of poor roads on farmers, businesses, transporters and ordinary Nigerians.

“I am a farmer myself, so this is personal to me too. I also developed an interest in mass transportation early in life, and over the decades I have watched our transport infrastructure deteriorate significantly,” he said.

Atiku said the consequences of poor transport infrastructure extended beyond damaged vehicles and longer journeys, stressing that it affected the movement of agricultural produce, raw materials and people.

“Transport infrastructure is not merely about concrete and asphalt. It determines whether produce gets to market before it spoils, whether a businessman makes a profit or a loss, how much it costs to move food and raw materials, and how safely people can travel,” he said.

He also agreed with Yakubu that government should prioritise rehabilitating existing infrastructure rather than focusing exclusively on new projects.

“Nigeria cannot keep abandoning what we already have while announcing increasingly expensive new projects,” Atiku said.

He pledged that, if elected, his administration would identify roads carrying significant volumes of agricultural produce, manufactured goods, raw materials and passengers, and prioritise those whose rehabilitation could reduce travel time and transportation costs.

“My administration will identify the routes that carry the greatest volumes of agricultural produce, manufactured goods, raw materials and passengers, and direct investment first to those whose restoration can most quickly reduce travel time, lower transport costs and streqngthen economic activity,” he said.

According to him, infrastructure development under his leadership would be measured by its impact on Nigerians rather than by the scale of government projects.

“Infrastructure under my leadership will not be about monuments to government. It will be about making life easier for Nigerians,” he said.

“Every naira we spend must answer a simple question: does this investment help Nigerians produce more, move more easily, earn more and live better?”

Atiku further outlined his proposed approach as: “build where necessary, rehabilitate where urgent, maintain what we have, and invest where Nigerians will feel the difference most.”

He said the objective would be to reconnect farms with markets, factories with consumers, communities with opportunities and Nigerians with one another.

The former vice president also raised concerns about the consequences of neglected roads and drainage systems, citing the case of a retired public servant in Calabar whose retirement home, according to him, collapsed following flooding worsened by a dilapidated road and blocked drainage channels.

He criticised governments for announcing new infrastructure projects while existing roads and drainage systems deteriorate.

“Announcing new projects cannot excuse failing to maintain the infrastructure that protects people’s homes and livelihoods,” Atiku said.

On national unity, Atiku endorsed Yakubu’s call for a campaign centred on national rather than ethnic or regional divisions.

“I do not want a Nigeria reduced to Fulani versus Yoruba, North versus South, Muslim versus Christian, or one tribe against another,” he said.

“Our problems are Nigerian problems. Our solutions must be Nigerian solutions.”

Atiku also said political leadership should remain connected to the experiences of ordinary Nigerians.

“Leadership must never become so distant that ordinary Nigerians can no longer tell you where the shoe pinches,” he said.

He concluded by assuring Yakubu that his concerns had been heard, adding: “And on this, you have my commitment.”