APGA, Niger govt bicker over projects

The Niger State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Niger State government have disagreed on the government handling projects, including the rehabilitation of the Minna-Suleja road.

While the opposition party accused the government of wasting tax payers’ money, the authorities lambasted the APGA for making a frivolous accusation.

The government awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the 98-km federal road for N500 million, but about three months into the project, the road has further deteriorated.

It blamed the situation to overloading by articulated vehicles and threatened to enact a law to check their excess.

However, the state chairman of APGA, Mallam Musa Aliyu Liman queried the quality of the rehabilitation exercise.

“Time has come when we will call this administration to order over its wasteful spending as if the resources they are dispersing belong to them,” Mallam Liman said.

He said rather than accepting responsibility for its inadequacies, the government was blaming the deplorable state of the road on trucks and articulated vehicles drivers.

“If the rehabilitation was carried out well, there was no way it would have deteriorated just within such a short period,” he claimed.

Mallam Liman also berated the government for the manner it has been handling contract award since it assumed power, accusing it of not following due process.

But, in a swift reaction, the government questioned the technical competence of the state APGA chairman to judge the contractors.

The deputy chief press secretary to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, Mr Jide Orintunsin, said due-diligence was followed in the award of all contracts by the administration.

He also said the government was mindful of the economic downturn the country was currently facing and had been prudent in its spending.