The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has directed the contractor handling the construction of Lambata-Lapai–Bida Road to immediately embark on remedial works with boulders on the critical section of the road in order to bring relief to commuters.
Fashola’s directive is coming on the heels of protests by trucks drivers who at the weekend blocked the road in protests over alleged neglect by the federal government.
The contract for the road was awarded in May 2018 and 26.7km out of 124.8km has been completed.
The Senate also on Tuesday passed a resolution asking the federal government to make N300billion available as emergency funds for the repair of federal roads that transversed Niger State.
The resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator representing Niger North, Sabi Abdullahi.
A statement signed by Director, Press and Public Relations to the Minister, Boade Akinola, noted that the inclement weather condition was adversely affecting the progress of work on the 124.8km road, thereby making the road unmotorable especially between Km 45-50 to articulated vehicles and trailers conveying petroleum products and others.
Fashola further directed the contractor to concentrate efforts on executing the worst Fadama section of the road (Km 45-50) where a lot of earthworks is required, in order to further alleviate the pains of commuters.
“The ministry has contacted the leadership of the union of truck owners and operators to appeal to their drivers to vacate the road to allow the contractor access to the worksite.
“Accordingly, the minister is also appealing to Niger State Government to reconsider the decision to close Bida – Minna and Lapai -Paiko roads to articulated vehicles while construction is equally going on to decongest and distribute the traffic on Bida -Lambata road to the other adjoining state roads.
“The minister explained further that the restriction of articulated vehicles from using Bida- Minna road by Niger State Government diverted most of the Lagos and Abuja bound articulated vehicles to Lambata – Lapai – Bida road, adding that this has increased the volume of traffic and this hampers smooth operations by contractors at site causing slow progress of work.”
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