‘We’re going through hell’ — Niger gov asks FG to fix Minna/Bida road

Abubakar Bello, governor of Niger, says the state is “going through hell” as a result of the failed section of the Minna/Bida road.

Speaking after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Friday, the governor said the state was forced to close the Minna/Bida road because of complaints that movement of heavy-duty trucks was hampering the progress of the work.

Bello, who briefed the president on the state of the road, said he is hopeful that the federal government will soon intervene.

“The President believes more in action; he doesn’t talk too much, I think from his countenance I can say that he felt bad especially for Niger state. We are shouldering all the weight; every cargo from the south-west passes through Minna specifically,” he said.

“I think he has an idea. He probably will not know everything, but he has an idea what we are going through at moment. At the moment we are going through hell in Niger state. So, I believe something will be done.”

The governor, who emphasised that there was a need for urgency on the state of roads in Niger, said many sections have failed as a result of rainfall.

“At the moment, we are facing difficult times because the rains are quite heavy. Most sections of the road have failed completely, and there is need to have some quick intervention to ease the difficulties being experienced by motorists in highways. So, I took time to brief Mr. President on what is happening and what I think can be done in the interim to address some of these issues,” he said.

“You will recall that about two weeks ago we had a meeting chaired by the chief of staff with the minister of works, the GMD of the NNPC, the director-general of the Department of State Service, and the inspector-general of police with regard to the closure of Minna/Bida road.

“We were forced to close Minna/Bida road because the contractor on site had complained that the work in progress was very slow as a result of heavy movement of trucks on that road. As you are aware, that road was built for light vehicles, so we were forced to shut down Minna/Bida road.

“Eventually we had to open it so that we don’t create hardship to other parts of the country especially the northern states. But at the moment as it today, we have two failed sections of Minna/Bida road, and one failed section of Minna/Tekna road which has brought about the complete blockage of that road.

“So, something needs to be done immediately to provide for alternative route between the south-west and northern parts of the states. We have a major trunk ‘A’ one road, which is the Jebba-Mokwa-Kagara-Tegna-Pandogri-Kaduna road.

“I hope attention should be given to that road so that we divert most of the trailers to that road. There is also an alternative route which is the Mokwa-Bida-Lapai-Lambata road. That will also provide alternative to Minna-Bida road.”

He also said he spoke with the president about the recent flood in the state, adding that he believes the federal government will provide relief materials for affected persons.

“At the moment, we have over 150 communities under water in Niger state; thousands of hectares of land have been displaced by flood; major investments like the Sunti sugar [factory] is completely under water. They have lost over 2,500 hectares of sugar cane plantation, and a vast majority of the facility itself is under water,” he said.

“It is unfortunate it has happened, but I pray we will be able to get some quick intervention from the federal government, so that we can support our local farmers that have lost their livelihood due to floods.”