APC senator accuses Fashola of ‘bias’ over funding for rehabilitation of Niger roads

Mohammed Sani Musa, senator representing Niger east, has accused Babatunde Fashola, minister of works and housing, of “one-sidedness” over allocation of funds for rehabilitating bad roads in Niger state.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) senator spoke on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday, after Sabi Abdullahi, deputy majority whip of the senate, moved a motion.

While moving his motion, Abdullahi drew the attention of the blockade of roads in and out of Bida in Niger state.

On Friday, truck drivers blocked roads in and out of Bida town in protest over the “slow work” on the Bida-Lambata road.

The drivers asked the government to immediately reopen the road, which they said serves as an alternative route.

But while contributing to the motion, Musa said the senate needs to ask the federal government to intervene in the crisis.

“The deputy chief whip has done a wonderful presentation and this is almost coming at the right time because the budget is about coming,” he said.

“Our roads are in shambles; they are not motorable. So, if the trailers decide to block Niger state roads, it is not just to Niger state but to the entire Nigeria.

“From Abuja to Makurdi, almost N56 billion was allocated to that road and you look at the road that we just mentioned, only N4.6 billion. Where is the equity?

“I call on the minister of works to realise that Nigeria is a large country and we need everyone to be taken seriously. The minister of works is one-sided. What we need in this country is equal opportunity for every sector.”

Meanwhile, Fashola has directed the contractor handling the construction of Lambata-Lapai-Bida road to immediately embark on remedial works in order to bring relief to 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 work site,” a statement issued by Boade Akinola, director, press of the ministry, reads.

“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 adjourning state roads.”