The Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, on Tuesday, flagged off the construction of 5.5-kilometre asphalt road linking Tudun-Biri village in the Igabi Local Government area of the state to the Kaduna International Airport.
The development comes over three months after the community was accidentally bombed by the Nigerian Army on December 3, 2023.
The incident claimed the lives of over 100 villagers with many others injured.
The road construction was part of the measures to alleviate the suffering of the victims.
Also, The PUNCH gathered that the 109 members of the Nigerian Senate have finally fulfilled their pledge to donate their December 2023 salaries, amounting to N109m, to the victims.
Our correspondent, who was at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House on Monday where the rescued Kuriga schoolchildren were handed over to the state governor in a brief ceremony, gathered that the Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Lawal Usman, presented the N109m to the state government.
Apart from the construction of the access road to the village, the government is also undertaking the construction of a Skills Acquisition Centre and Modern Primary Healthcare Centre to serve the Tudun Biri people and neighboring villages affected by the ill-fated bombing.
The governor, during the inauguration ceremony, said the project would open up the development of the agrarian community as well as link Tudun Biri and other neighboring communities to the markets where they could easily sell their farm produce.
He told the gatherings that one of the most important agendas of the government was the revitalisation of rural economy in the state.
The governor said, “Two days after the unfortunate drone accident, I promised the people of Tudun Biri that by the grace of God, we will improve the infrastructure of the village, build road, hospital as well as skills acquisition center for them. By the grace of God, today we are here to fulfill our promise.
“One of the most important agenda of our government is the revitalisation of the rural economy. The road we are breaking ground for today, which is about 5.5 kilometres, will certainly reduce the travel time of the people of this community to the town. It will also ease the movement of goods.
“Most of the people in this village are farmers and artisans. So, the road will help them to move their produce from Tudun Biri and link them up with the markets.
“We are also doing the groundbreaking for the construction of a skills acquisition centre for most of the young men and women of this community, who are determined and willing to be financially independent so that they can learn different skills.
“As a government, job creation is one of the most important focuses of our government, because we believe it will reduce unemployment and also reduce the poverty level in the state.”
The governor also commended the people of Tudun Biri for their patience and cooperation with the government during and after their trying moments while pledging that the community would not be let down.
Earlier in his remarks on behalf of the community, the District Head of Rigasa, Alhaji Aminu Idris, expressed appreciation to the governor for fulfilling his promises and appealed to the government to also link Tudun with Buruku with similar road project to assist other neighbouring communities.