We can surmount our challenges together – Lawan

President of the Senate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, has urged Nigerians, irrespective of political persuasion, religious belief and ethnicity to come together and surmount the challenges confronting the country.

Lawan said this during the inauguration of dualised Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road constructed by Akwa Ibom Government in Ikot Ekpene on Tuesday.

It was reported that the Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road construction was started by former governor of the state, Sen. Godswill Akpabio.

Lawan said that the challenges confronting the nation should not be left in the hands of the Federal Government alone.

He charged the states and local governments to join hands with the Federal Government to put an end to the challenges facing the country.

Lawan noted that the purpose of leadership at all levels was to deal with the challenges confronting the nation.

“Today, our country is going through a trial period, we are going through some challenges.

“The purpose of any leadership at any level is to deal with challenges and at this point, all hands must be on deck.

“We need not only the Federal Government to deal with the challenges. We need sub nationals, the states and even the local governments.

“When we hold our hands together, we can surmount any challenge in this country. What is required of us is honesty and sincerity in our leadership,” Lawan said.

He said that the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, believes in infrastructure development of the country, especially roads.

Lawan added that the administration had put more resources in infrastructure development than any other administration.

“The present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari believes in infrastructure development of Nigeria more than any other administration.

“This administration has put more resources in infrastructure development, especially roads.

Therefore, I want to assure you that you have worthy partner in the Federal Government,” he said.

The senate president called on state governors to cooperate with the Federal Government in infrastructure development of the country to provide dividends of democracy to the citizens.

Lawan noted that Nigerian citizens were always in unity with one another, stressing that the political leaders should come together to salvage various issues facing the country.

He assured Akwa Ibom Government that the resources spent on the road being a federal road would be refunded by the Federal Government to encourage state governors to intervene on federal roads.

Lawan commended Gov. Udom Emmanuel for his infrastructure development of the state to enhance the living standard of the people.

Earlier, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, said that completion of the 25km dualised Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road gave him exceeding joy.

Emmanuel said that the road was constructed with state’s resources that would have been channelled to the development of other sectors of the economy.

He, therefore, appealed to the Federal government to ensure prompt refund to the state.

The governor also appealed for the extension of the dualised road to Aba in Abia to ensure ease of doing business for both states.