By Hyacinth CHINWEUBA
Niger State Government says it is exploring various funding arrangements for the completion of road projects across the state in addition to seeking necessary attention from the Federal Government to do the needful on its Roads that crisscross the State.
The State Government, in its plans for the Roads sub-sector in the coming year 2021, also said the State-owned Roads Maintenance Agency (NIGROMA) will be re-positioned in line with its Zero Pothole Policy to ensure routine maintenance of roads, while additional pedestrian bridges will be constructed along major highways in Minna and Kontagora to ensure safety.
Reviewing activities of the sub-sector in the outgoing year, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello said his government is not unaware that a good road network in the state will improve the socio-economic life of the people, hence the setting up of an Infrastructure Committee to review all uncompleted infrastructural projects and ascertain work status to complete them within the shortest possible time.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Muhammed Ketso said the committee has worked tirelessly and visited all the project sites in the state adding that some of the projects have been completed in the major towns across the state. They include; 11km Kontagora Federal Highway, Kontagora township roads, Garima-Tudun-Wada Police Station road Minna and Zungeru township roads, while Bosso-Estate road is at 85% level of completion.
He said Contracts for additional roads rehabilitation and constructions were also awarded. They include; reconstruction of Minna-Kateregi–Bida road, which is a major economic nerve of the state, the dualization of Broadcasting road, the rehabilitation of Maje Junction–Kwamba–Suleja Road and some selected Suleja township roads.
Others are; maintenance of Minna City Gate-Chanchaga-Bridge – Paiko – Kampanin Dorawa – Farin-Doki, which he said are all ongoing.
In the year under review, the Governor further mentioned some roads spread across the state that are still ongoing to include; Mokwa township road, Kagara township road, Tungan Gworo-Tagwai Dam road, Abattoir road in Minna, Piggery-Morris and Piggery-Union Bank road, Gbenu road in Rijau and Gogo-Mailale to Peugeot.
The Governor informed the people that work is in progress at all the project sites across the state and expressed confidence that in no distant time, the roads will be completed and ready for use.
Similarly, the Governor said the State Road Maintenance Agency (NIGROMA) carried out routine maintenance work along the major roads and also completed 3 out of 4 Roads on London Street in Minna, river crossings, span bridges, and concrete culverts were also constructed across the state to ease the movement of goods and services particularly from the rural areas.