By Mardiyyah Abubakar
The Federal Government has assured residents of Niger State that work will soon resume on the Bida-Lapai-Lambata Road project to improve transportation, protect lives and property, and address insecurity along the route.
The assurance followed a meeting between the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and a delegation from the Coalition of Niger South Development Associations, led by the member representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency, Sa’idu Musa Abdullahi, in Abuja.
Abdullahi appealed to the Federal Government to prioritise the completion of the road, citing its economic importance and the security challenges affecting communities along the corridor.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Chairman of the Bida Forum, Muhammad Muhammad, urged the minister to begin emergency repairs on the worst sections of the road to make it passable.
He also called for the mobilisation of contractors to the site within two months and proposed a community monitoring team to support communication between residents and the project team.
Jameel said residents wanted the project completed rather than used as a political campaign tool, noting that previous administrations had made promises and conducted groundbreaking ceremonies without completing the road.
“We want the job done,” he said, adding that residents needed “promise and action with a clear timeline.”
The Minister of State for Works, Bello Mohammed Goronyo, who received the delegation on Umahi’s behalf, commended Abdullahi for his commitment to his constituents.
Goronyo assured the delegation that Umahi would fulfil the commitment to the project, describing the minister as someone who would not make empty promises.
Speaking during the meeting, Umahi said the Federal Government had renewed its focus on road projects in Niger State because of the poor condition of major routes and frequent accidents involving trucks along the corridor.
He said pressure from stakeholders, including Abdullahi, the Niger State governor, the Minister of Information and Senator Musa, had contributed to the renewed attention on the Bida-Lapai-Lambata Road.
Umahi disclosed that he had raised the matter with President Bola Tinubu, who agreed that completing the road would help address insecurity along the corridor.
The minister also said several major road projects were being executed in Niger State through the Federal Government’s tax-credit scheme, with two additional projects recently awarded.
He said Niger State and the South-South region accounted for 51 per cent of the National Credit Scheme’s tax-credit projects.
Umahi further explained that rising construction costs had significantly increased the cost of road projects, noting that a kilometre of standard road now costs considerably more than it did in previous years.
He added that the Tinubu administration remained committed to funding road and bridge projects across the country.
“Every part of this country became a construction site,” Umahi said.
