Salva Kiir Receives 192-Kilometer Juba-Nimule Road From Susan Page
12 September 2012—(Juba) —The United States Agency for International Development, USAID, has handed over the 192 kilometer Juba – Nimule highway to the government on Wednesday.
The tarmacking of the highway which now connects the country to East Africa through Uganda began on February 10, 2011.
The launch was attended by President Salva Kiir, the USambassador to South Sudan, minister of Roads and Bridges and other USAID and government officials.
Speaking at the handover ceremony at Nesitu checkpoint along the high way, the US Ambassador to South Sudan, Susan Page said that the highway is and will fasten delivery of commercial goods to the country and connect South Sudan to East Africa, and beyond.
[Susan Page]: “With the completion of this economically vital road, business transactions within the country and between the South Sudan and the neighboring countries are faster and easier. This road has reduced travel times between Juba and Nimule for more than six hours at the beginning of the project -slightly less than three hours today. Am sure you are all aware of the benefits of that improvement with South Sudan now becoming fully integrated into East Africa, trade roads and more goods coming to South Sudan more regularly and quickly. The United States Government and the ministry of roads and bridges have worked closely together to establish and build the capacity of the road’s authority and its success will be essential to an improved transport network in South Sudan.”
Meanwhile, President Salva Kiir Mayardit called on the public to observe road safety regulations and maintain the road due to its significance to the economy of the country.
[Salva Kiir]: “Now that we celebrate this great achievement of this paved road for the first time in South Sudan, we should also remember the dangers that come with it -particularly over speeding; when drivers find the road is smooth, they run to the extend that they forget their lives, it is dangerous. A good road like this is not good for people to die on it. There must be speed limit, and the traffic agents must put road signs on this highway. Where there is a curve, there must be a sign that shows you are entering into a curve so that one can slow down. This is very important.”
President Kiir also authorized the ministry of interior to deploy highway patrol police to ensure safety of motorists and passengers traveling on the Juba –Nimule highway.
[Salva Kiir]: “There must also be safety on this road; the minister of interior in conjunction with other security organs should ensure that there is security on this road 24 hours a day, because there are some other criminals who have guns, they could come set an ambush on this road. If they see the road is clear without security force, they could easily come and rob any car, take their money or goods. These kinds of people must be apprehended by the security forces -especially the police.”
Juba – Nimule High way is the first fully tarmacked modern road in the country.
http://www.sudanradio.org/usaid-hands-over-just-tarred-juba-nimule-road
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