The Federal Government has assured that work will soon resume in earnest on the Bida-Lapai-Lambata Road project in Niger State to address the road’s deplorable condition, save lives and property, and tackle the lingering insecurity along the corridor.
The assurance was given during a meeting between the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and a delegation of stakeholders under the aegis of the Coalition of Niger South Development Associations, led by the member representing the Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency of Niger State, Hon. Sa’idu Musa Abdullahi, during a courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja.
The lawmaker reiterated the need for the Federal Government to complete the project, citing its socio-economic importance and the need to address the security challenges affecting communities along the axis.
In his address, the Chairman of Bida Forum, Mallam Muhammad Jameel Muhammad, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, said they had come to appeal for the Minister’s urgent intervention to address the challenges residents had faced on the road for decades.
He said, ‘The first one, sir, is now because of the way the road is. In fact, very close along the stretch, articulated and heavy trucks, so we’re requesting the first one is emergency remedial work on the bad spots, but at least the road will be passable.
‘The second is… all that we want in the next two months: let’s begin to see something on the ground, mobilisation to the site, let the contractors.
‘And the third is that we want to have a monitoring team, community representation. At least, we will be able to interface with the team. We are not saying we are going to interfere with the technical, but we will support that in terms of community relations. What do they need, and what can we do to speed things up?
‘And lastly… it’s important to us. People have said it; we have seen it in the past: that road has been a political campaign tool. So this time around, it shouldn’t be about political approval. We want the job done.
‘We have had governments that have come to do the same. We have even mentioned some. Some will even say that they are doing groundbreaking, but afterwards nothing happened.
‘Honourable Excellency, this is our request, and we will be so much happier, and we’ll be able to calm the frustration of people back home. People will go back today with a certain level of commitment, not promises. Promise and action with a clear timeline.’
In his remark, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Mohammed Goronyo, who received the delegation on behalf of the Minister, commended the lawmaker for his commitment to his constituents.
He said, ‘Sa’idu, you have shown a lot of commitment to your people. The Honourable Minister has already said it: you are a lover of your people. Just keep it up, because God is there to continue to support you.
‘Niger South is the home of my brother-in-law. I know a lot of people from Lapai, and I’m sure when we go there, the Minister will really fulfil this very important pledge that he made.’
‘He has been talking about this Niger for a very long time, and he said we should find time to go there and do the groundbreaking. And I want to tell you that my minister is the type of person who will not just come and give you empty promises. If he will do it, he’ll do it. Take it, or you leave it.
‘And we are lucky in this country to have somebody like you. So we commend you, sir, for your leadership, for your resilience, even though there are some bad eggs that are there.’
On his part, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said the Federal Government was committed to carrying out projects in Niger State because of concerns raised by the condition of the roads, particularly the frequent incidents of trucks falling along the corridor.
He said the pressure from stakeholders, including Hon. Abdullahi, the Niger State governor, the Minister of Information and Senator Musa, had also contributed to the government’s renewed attention to the project.
He added, ‘Because of the pressure, I went to Mr. President. I said, please, you have so much in your hands. Can we allow that? … President said, if we do it, it will help, and the insecurity within that corridor will be eliminated.’
The Minister further disclosed that important road projects were being undertaken in Niger State through tax credits, including two projects recently awarded.
He said, ‘The greatest beneficiary of the NMP’s tax credit is in Niger State. So both Niger State and the entire South-South constitute 51% of the entire tax credit.
‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not, you know, make a political statement, you know, as far as roads and bridges are concerned. When we came on board, we had it in 2068, you know, but it’s totally over 13 trillion Naira, and with the removal of subsidy and with the removal, the floating of Naira, your guess is as good as mine, what the cost of this project will be.
‘At that time, a kilometre of road was costing about N500 million.
‘Today, a kilometre of road, standard average, with no swampy area, or without pits, you know, is costing between 2.5 million. So you can imagine if you multiply, you know, that, you know, 13 trillion, you multiply by six, you know, find out what the cost will be.
‘And the president has been very intentional in helping this country.
‘He’s been very intentional in funding the roads and the bridges. Every part of this country became a construction site.’