The Plateau Government said on Wednesday it had spent N95 billion on the construction of 850kms of roads in six years.

The Commissioner for Works, Mr Chris Hassan, stated this at a news conference in Jos.

He said that the Gov. Jang-led administration had constructed 33 roads of different scope at the cost of N30 billion in its first tenure.

Hassan also said that contract for 25 roads of various lengths and scope were awarded in the second tenure of the administration at the cost of N65 billion.

He said that the state government inherited 700km of roads that were built on bituminous surfaces with either asphalt or surface dressing.

``Based on our ministry's assessment, we had 400km length of roads that was build on asphalt and we had 250km that was on surface dressing, that is what we inherited in 2007.

``From 2007 to date, we have increased a length of well over 850km of various sizes with either surface dressing or asphalt surface.

``We have well over 25 roads of various lengths whose contract were awarded in the second tenure with a whooping sum of N65 billion.

``If you put N30 billion and N65 billion together, we are spending well over N95 billion on roads only in the last six years.’’

The commissioner said that the state had only five double carriage roads before the coming of the present administration, adding, however, eight new roads had been upgraded to double carriage, bringing the total number of such roads to 13.

Hassan said that the huge investment in the sector was because of the centrality of roads in the development of the state.

He said that all the projects would be completed before the expiration of the tenure of the administration.

``Based on that, we are not owing any contractor a dime; any contractor who is not working according to specifications and speed would be sanctioned accordingly.

``We believe that most of the projects would be completed between now and October this year.’’

The commissioner said that over N800 million had been released for payment of compensation to land owners, adding that the payment and relocation of utilities would begin within the week.

On security, he said that men of the Special Task Force had been deployed to protect the contractors and their equipment.

Hassan denied allegations that the road projects were concentrated in a particular senatorial zone, saying that all the 17 local governments were fully benefiting from the gesture.

``The projects are evenly spread to all the local governments, but of course there are more roads in Jos-Bukuru metropolis because it is the state capital.

``Abuja, for instance, has a higher concentration of federal projects because it is the country’s capital and we are doing same to the state seat of government.’’ (NAN)