Niger communities charged to protect expatriates, facilities from criminals

Niger State Government has enjoined communities benefiting from various rural roads construction and rehabilitation across the state to secure and safeguard the lives and properties of the expatriates and all other workers handling road project in their localities.

This appeal was made by the State Project Coordinator of the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP II), Alhaji Hassan Baba Etsu.

The state government noted the insecurity and wanton kidnappings in the country and urged communities to be vigilant and protect the workers against any potential danger.

The Project Coordinator made the plea at the Palace of the Village Head of Uchichi, Kasuwan Garba, while on a Tour of the 88km Kamfanin Bobi-Kasuwan Garba-Bangi road rehabilitation project.

He stated that the issue of insecurity must not be left to the government alone stressing that it was also the responsibility of the benefiting communities to protect and safeguard the lives of those working for them.

“Because of the prevailing crime rate in our society, we need not only the Police but also the Locales to assist in protecting the lives of these people”.

Alhaji Hassan Baba Etsu expressed satisfaction with the level of work on the road and called on the Village Head and his people to take ownership of the road project through constant monitoring of its maintenance by the community based rural roads maintenance group engaged by RAMP II.

Responding, the Village Head of Uchichi, Kasuwan Garba, Malam Adamu Bridge expressed gratitude to the state government for taking away the pains people in the area have been living with for decades with the construction of the road and a Bridge.

According to him, the Kamfanin Bobi-Kasuwan Garba-Bangi road project has not only increased economic activities in the area but also ensured easy access to Primary Healthcare.

He pledged loyalty to the state government and assured that the expatriates and all other workers handling the road project would be given adequate protection to ensure its timely completion.

Earlier, the Consultant handling the road project, Alhassan Abubakar Sadik and Site Supervisor, Mr. Zhou assured that the entire work would be completed within the 18 months time frame.