Suleja-Minna Road: Presidency directs contractor to return to site
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the contractor handling the reconstruction of the Suleja- Minna road to return to site immediately.
The President also ordered that the construction of the road which was initially to terminate a few kilometres after Gurara water falls should extend to Minna the state capital while both sections should be dualized.
The foreign construction firm handling the job moved out of site immediately after the 2015 general elections in the country for fear that the political situation in the country could hamper payment for the contract.
Niger state Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Abdulmalik Cheche, disclosed this to newsmen in the state capital after the State Executive Council meeting.
“The cheering news I have for you is that President Muhammad Buhari has directed the contractor handling the Suleja- Minna road to return to site.
“I got this information from the permanent secretary Federal Ministry of works who sent me a text message when the Minister could not reach me on phone.”
According to Cheche the action of the President was a reaction to outcry from the motoring public over the dilapidated nature of the road which has also become the cause of numerous loss of lives.
While appreciating the gesture of the federal government the Commissioner expressed the hope that the contractor would respect the President by immediately commencing work.
Alhaji Cheche pleaded with the federal government to complete work on the Minna-Kaduna road which he said if constructed would reduce the pressure on the Suleja- Minna road and reduce the period taken to get to Kaduna from Minna via Suleja by one hour.
Cheche also announced that a section of the Kagara-Kaduna road had been constructed at N 328m by the state government.
The Commissioner also disclosed that government had awarded contract for the renovation of the police barracks damaged by rainstorm during the last rainy season.
The contract he said would cost N80m.
