Amb Bashir Yuguda, the Minister of State for Works, has restated Federal Government's commitment to the actualisation of the Trans-Saharan Road Projects (TRP) to enhance socio-economic activities among the states.

He gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja when he received a delegation from the Algerian Embassy, led by Mr Ayadi Mohammed, the Secretary General of Trans-Saharan Road Liaison Committee.

Yuguda said that Nigeria was aware of the value of the road which passes through six nations. "Trans-Saharan Highway with a total length of 4,680km traverses six countries in the Sub-Saharan region, namely Nigeria, Niger Republic, Chad, Mali, Algeria and Tunisia.

"The main axis of the project starts from Lagos on the West Atlantic Coast and terminates at Algiers on the Mediterranean Coast of North Africa.

"The construction of the roads would further promote trade, unity and facilitate easy transportation of Good and services across the nations," he said.

Yuguda assured the team of the Federal Government's support to the nation for the actualisation of the road.

He also said that Government had done feasibility studies on the road and had put into consideration the concessions for the trans-Saharan roads to enhance speedy completion.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the meeting, the minister appointed Mr Bala Danshehu, Director of Highway Planning and Development in the Ministry as the Desk Officer to coordinate and represent the country.

He said Danshehu would make available all information needed from Nigeria to the team and provide all information provided by the team to the country.

"He would represent the missing link and bridge it," he said.

Earlier, Mohammed had said that of the 4,680km of the Trans-Saharan road for all six countries, Nigeria was yet to rehabilitate its share of 1,130km.

He called for a meeting of co-ordination between the states as Nigeria was absent at all previous meetings. Mohammed pleaded for the presence of the Nigerian Representative for the next meeting scheduled for June.

NAN also reports that the construction of the proposed Trans-Saharan Highway linking Nigeria with five African countries will cost N150 billion.