By; BALA B. BITRUS, Minna.
Respite has finally come to commuters and other road users as the Federal Government has ordered the contractors handling the Suleja – Minna road to return to site immediately.
Work on the dualisation of the road was awarded in 2010 at the cost of 34 Billion naira (for the first phase of the project) but it was abandoned in 2015 due to none funding by the federal government. Only 6 Billion was paid as mobilization fees to the contracting firm, Salini Nigeria Limited.
Commissioner for Works in Niger state, Abdulmalik Usman Cheche disclosed yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered work to resume on the site.
The Commissioner disclosed that the President has graciously agreed that the construction of the road which by initial contractual agreement was to terminate a few kilometres after the junction of the Gurara Waterfalls in Gurara local government council of Niger state is now to be extended to Minna, the state capital.
The Commissioner who briefed newsmen after the state Executive Council meeting on Thursday, said federal government’s response came due to public outcry from the motoring public and Niger state government over the dilapidated state of the road which has since 2013 become death trap resulting in several loss of lives and properties.
On behalf of the Niger state government, the Commissioner applauded the federal government gesture in ordering
Cheche also pleaded with the federal government to complete work on the Minna – Sarkin Pawa – Kaduna road which is less 45 kilometres to Kaduna.
He said if the road is constructed it would reduce the pressure on the Suleja – Minna road and as well reduce the man hour wasted on the road on the Minna – Suleja to Kaduna period it takes to get to Kaduna from Minna via Suleja by one hour.
Meanwhile, as part of its rural roads development efforts, the APC led administration in the state has announced the repair and reconstruction of a damaged section of the Kagara-Kaduna road at the cost of N 328 million.
The state government has also awarded the contract for the renovation of a Police Barracks damaged by rainstorm during the last rainy season, Cheche said, adding that the barracks renovation contract would cost the state government about N80 million.
