Minister of Works and Housing Raji Fashola has directed the contractor handling the construction of Lambata -Lapai – Bida Road to immediately embark on remedial works with boulders on the critical section of the road in order to bring relief to commuters.
According to a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boade Akinola, the Minister noted that the inclement weather condition is adversely affecting the progress of work on the ongoing 124.8km, making the road unmotorable especially between Km 45 – 50 km to articulated vehicles and trailers conveying petroleum products and others.
The Minister directed the contractor to concentrate efforts on executing the worst Fadama section of the road Km 45- 50 where a lot of earthworks are required to further alleviate the pains of 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.
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.
The Minister explained further that the restriction of articulated vehicles from using Bida- Minna road by Niger State Government diverted most of the Lagos and Abuja bound articulated vehicles to Lambata – Lapai – Bida road, adding this has increased the volume of traffic and this hampers smooth operations by contractors at site causing slow progress of work.
The contract was awarded in May 2018 and 26.7km out of 124.8km has been completed.
The Minster reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to continue to respond to the needs of the people, even as infrastructure development is given top priority.
