By: Adelowo Oladipo, Minna
Articulated Vehicles and Petrol tanker drivers plying the Bida, Agaie, Lapai – Lambata road in Niger state that connects Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria have expressed dismay over the deplorable condition of the road which in most cases delays their journey for over one week in the areas due to unnecessary traffic jam/hold up .
A driver with A.Y.M.Shafa Holdings Limited, Malam Dauda Ciroma who stated this in an interview with Newsmen at the Bida- Badeggi road where they have stayed for two days,however lamented that the road has been neglected by successive administrations over the years.
A driver with A.Y.M.Shafa Holdings Limited, Malam Dauda Ciroma who stated this in an interview with Newsmen at the Bida- Badeggi road where they have stayed for two days,however lamented that the road has been neglected by successive administrations over the years.
Dauda Ciroma explained that Niger state roads which served as the gateway to the Southern and Western parts of Nigeria from the Northern region deserved to be accorded priority by the Federal Government.
He added that Niger state Government on it’s part should have embarked on the construction of such roads and aught to demand for compensation from the Federal Government for such task after the completion.
Ciroma however appealed to the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency commence the construction of the work without delay in view of the fact that it has since been approved but abandoned such project, that has been impacting negatively on the lives of Nigerians especially motorists, tanker drivers and passengers plying the route.
According to him, the Federal Government and Private Companies lose several millions of naira on daily basis as a result of the delays and gridlock being experienced in the areas for over three years now and thereby called for urgent step to reduce their hardship.
Another Fuel tanker driver, Malam Abubakar Bello said sometimes they stayed on the road for two days in one place without moving an inch, due to hold up which he described as sad and pathetic for the plight experienced.
Abubakar Bello.however emphasized that in the process of waiting sometimes their tankers develop some mechanical problems while on their part they spent huge sums of money for their feeding and other expenses on their way due to the delays.
He added that the loss of lives and properties as a result of bad nature of the road was alarming and stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to address the difficulty which has negative impacts economically.
It could be recalled that the contract awarded for the construction of that particular roads started since the tenure of former president Goodluck Jonathan from Lambata to Mokwa in which he succeeded in completing Bida to Mokwa.
Late former President Muhamadu Buhari’s government had through the former Minister of Works and Housing Mr. Rauf Babtunde Fashola started the construction of the road from Suleja- Lambata- Lapai – Agaie -Bida and throughout the period less than 50km has since been abandoned”
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