By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
Niger State government has kick-started the repair and rehabilitation of the state-owned roads.
Besides, it has closed down Minna-Bida state-owned road to articulated vehicles because of its deplorable condition and to allow for speedy reconstruction of the road.
Already, the roads had been barricaded to stop the heavy trucks from plying them.
The closure of the road is coming after the state government had announced the decision to articulated vehicles some weeks back.
The Minna-Bida road, which has witnessed incessant breakdown of articulated vehicles on it, has
caused hardship on commuters.
Other roads closed are; Lapai-Paiko, Chanchaga Bridge-Maikunkele, Muye-Lapai, and Zungeru w- Wushishi roads.
But in a statement by Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State, Mary Noel-Berje, the government explained that the closure only affected the state-owned roads.
The state government, however, warned that any articulated vehicle caught on the closed roads would be penalised.
The government also enjoined its citizens to show some level of understanding as it was not unaware of the inconveniences the restriction would cause, stressing that it was in the interest of the state.
Some of the drivers of the trailers also welcomed the development of the closure, according to the government’s spokesperson.
She said that they were in support, hoping that the restriction would bring about the desired result.
Yusuf Ahmed, one of the articulated vehicle drivers, who was coming from Bauchi State caught up in the barricade, said it happened due to an accident on the Minna-Bida Road and appealed for consideration, adding that Minna-Bida road was the only motorable road now as that of Bida-Agaie-Lapai-Lambata and Tegina-Birnin roads were in bad condition, coupled with the presence of bandits and kidnappers along the route.
Considering the current development, the initial 18-dry months time frame for completion of the Minna-Bida road is no longer feasible due to some challenges, as such the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure will adopt measures to enable the contractors complete the project on a good time.
With the closure of all state owned roads to heavy duty trucks in the state, it is hoped that the attention of the relevant Federal authorities will be drawn to the state as it is hosting most of the federal roads in the country and also bearing in mind that it is connecting the Northern and the Southern parts of the country.