By; Bala B. Bitrus, Minna.
Niger State Government has pleaded with the Federal Government to expedite action on the dualisation of the Suleja -Minna road before the onset of the rains this year.
Though the federal government had last November ordered the contractor, Sabilini Nigeria Limited, to return to site and continue with the project abandoned since 2015 by the last administration, work on the project has stalled while commuters and other road users continue to groan while plying the road.
Worried that if the project is not handled expeditiously, road users plying the Suleja-Minna road would be in for another year of orgy, the state government said it was in the overall interest of the country if the road is fixed quickly.
The state Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa said the road which is the major gateway to Abuja, Kaduna and other states in the south west, north west and other places is very important to the socio economic development of the country.The Commissioner in a statement said the state government was concerned and worried over the delay in the execution and completion of the road project. He added that the condition of the road could be worst if it is not completed before the rains sets it.
Mr. Vatsa explained that the state lost out in its bid to have the federal government use the Minna Airport as alternate airport to the Nmamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja largely because of the terrible road from Suleja to Minna.
“We lost our bid because the link road between Abuja and Minna is in a terribly bad shape. If the road was good, it is just less than two hours drive from Abuja to Minna but for our bad road we lost the bid” he noted bitterly.
The statement quoted the Commissioner expressing the bitterness of the state government over the rejection of the Minna Airport for the Kaduna Airport saying “we felt cheated that Minna airport was not considered as it would have required less to put the road in good condition than what has been set aside for the upgrading of the Kaduna domestic airport” which would be used as alternate Airport while the Nmamdi Azikiwe International Airport closes for repairs.
The Commissioner urged the Minister for Works, Power and Housing, Babatude Fashola (SAN) to give priority attention for completion of the road project before the rains sets in”.
