Niger commited to fixing failed roads infrastructure — Official

Niger Government has restated its commitment to fixing dilapidated roads infrastructure in the state.

Mr Lucky Barau, Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Transport said this in an interview with the newsmen on Thursday in Minna.

Barau said that the current administration had demonstrated a strong passion for fixing the decaying roads and would sustain the tempo.

He noted that Gov. Umaru Bago, since assumption of office, had transformed the state into a huge construction site.

“The state’s road network, which comprised of both federal and state roads, is undergoing massive construction and rehabilitation to ease vehicular moment.

“This administration is doing well in changing the narrative of road infrastructure in the state.

“We are not happy that the roads, especially federal roads, are in bad shape, but we are satisfied that efforts are being made to change the situation in the state,” Barau said.

He said that recently, the ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Works, mobilised resources to maintain a portion of the Tunga-Shanu to Maje Road to ease traffic flow.

Barau also revealed that the ministry was working to install caution signpost in strategic locations as part of measures to minimise the rate of accidents on the roads.

“This will warn drivers to reduce their speed to 30 kilometres per hour,” he said.

According to him, the ministry is also collaborating with transport unions to sensitise drivers to the need to drive cautiously, especially during the yuletide season.

He said that the ministry was also working with the Ministry for Homeland Security to improve security on the roads.

Meanwhile, Shuaibi Yahaya, commercial driver in Niger, has urged the government to take immediate action to address the deteriorating state of roads ahead of the yuletide season.

Also, Danjuma Imo, a motorist said government should partner local contractors to undertake remedial road maintenance, focusing on critical roads such as Suleja to Minna and Diko to Mage.

He added that government should deploy more personnel to construct and maintain roads, ensuring they were motorable and safe for travelers during yuletide.

In Nasarawa state, a cross section of stakeholders in the transportation sector have commended the Federal Government for the construction of Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi Highway.

Muhammadu Maikwarya, Nasarawa State Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), praised the government’s efforts in addressing the nation’s road infrastructure deficit.

“The Federal Government’s focus on road construction is a welcome development.

“The improved road network will boost economic growth, reduce travel times, and increase safety for commuters,” he said.

The NURTW boss noted that the reconstruction of major highways had reduced the risk of accidents and improved the efficiency of transportation.

“Our members have reported significant reductions in vehicle maintenance costs and travel times since the completion of the Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi Highway.

Saidu Abubakar, a driver in Lafia, hailed the government’s commitment to safety, citing the installation of safety features and enforcement of traffic regulations.

“The construction of this road from Keffi to Makurdi will ease transportation for travellers this season, which is usually characterised by heavy traffic.

“We will continue to collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure that our roads remain safe for all users,” he said.

He also commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State for his vision in facilitating the road construction agenda in the state.

Also speaking, Esther Luka, passenger, said road crashes had reduced since the completion of the construction of the road, while noting that those who may not want to travel for the Christmas holidays due to bad road might have a change of mind.

She, however, appealed for reduction in the price of petroleum products to cushion the effect of the current economic hardships in the country.

In Kogi, residents lamented the dilapidated condition of federal roads especially in Kogi west, and appealed Federal Government’s intervention to address the situation.

Mr Shola Adedayo, a driver from Kabba-Bunu, said that the hardship being experienced on Kabba-Ekiti Road due to its dilapidated condition was unbearable.

“We are experiencing serious hardship along Kabba-Ekiti rRoad on daily basis due to portholes and gullies on the road, we are tired.

“The journey that is ordinarily supposed to take us less than an hour, will end up spending almost three hours due to bad roads.

“We spend so much money to repair our vehicles on daily basis due to bad roads.

“We are calling on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Works, to come to our aid because we are tired,” Adedayo said.

Also, Mr Ekene Jegede, a resident of Iyara in Ijumu LGA, said that the dilapidated condition of federal roads in the area was worrisome and needed urgent attention.

Mr Abdullahi Abdulkareem, a motorist, who plies the same route daily, said the the experience was devastating.

Abdulkareem noted that he had to visit the mechanic workshop for vehicle repairs after every trip.

He lamented that all the money he would have made and saved to do other things, was mostly lost to repairs of his car.

“The bad situation of Kabba – Egbe Road is very troubling and the road which also leads to other neighbouring states like Ekiti and Kwara has portrayed Kogi in a bad light.

“When you think of traveling to the western part of Kogi, you discover that from Lokoja to Obajana is very okay and from Obajana to Kabba has been fixed by Dangote Company.

“Kabba to Aiyetoro was partly fixed by former lawmaker Sen. Smart Adeyemi of the kogi west Senatorial District.

“However, from Aiyetoro to Egbe and some other neighbouring towns around Egbe is hell,” Abdulkareem said.

He, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to rehabilitate the deteriorating roads.

Mr Taiye James, a legal practitioner, said he believed the solution to the deteriorating state of Nigerian roads lies with the privatisation of the roads, especially the major highways.

“Nigerians have to bear the costs of the roads we drive on, because if the private sector takes over our roads with good accountability, they will be better maintained.

“Privatisation will help improve safety of the Nigerian roads. It will also create new jobs and bring additional revenue to the government through taxes and other charges,” he said.

He pointed out that the Nigerian Government could also alternatively embrace the Public Private Partnerships (PPP), where the private sector invests in financing, constructing and managing the roads and the government regulates the system.

This, he said, would ensure that the people were not short changed, and that government was bound to get good result in job creation, good roads and revenue generation.

Adeiza Hamza, an Engineer, said: “Having poor maintenance culture is another pathetic issue affecting our roads; this is one area we need a lot of development.

“Curbing corruption in the award of road maintenance and the challenges of not building Nigeria roads with high standard and quality materials should be properly curtailed.

“Nigerians should also ensure going the extra mile in the construction of proper drainage system to reduce the effects of erosion.

“These are few things that create the bad roads across the country.”

Hamza urged the Federal Government to strategise and restructure how Nigerian roads could be maintained or privatised, how its maintenance should bring better and lasting solutions to the deteriorating roads in the country.