The Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, on Thursday kicked started “Operation Zero Potholes within 100 days” in all parts of the state.
Flagging off the scheme along Mandela Road in Minna, the state capital, Bello said the patching up of potholes on roads in major cities of the state would be undertaken within the first 100 days of his administration.
The project, according to Bello, is designed to ensure improvement of urban infrastructure.
The governor, while lamenting the bad state of major roads, said the urban centres of the state require prompt attention, hence his declaration of war against potholes on urban roads.
He said this would soon be extended to the rural areas.
He said: “Operation Zero Potholes within 100 days is the beginning of an effort to keep our roads free of potholes.
“We are starting with the urban centres and very soon we shall cover the rural areas too.
“This is to ensure protection of lives and property.”
Bello further stated that the project will essentially make use of cold asphalt technology, which is being manufactured within the state.
Earlier, the manufacturer of the cold asphalt and one time Minister of Sports, Engineer Sani Ndanusa, said the cold asphalt technology is a globally accepted and faster approach to road maintenance.
According to Ndanusa: “The technology is a new innovation in construction and an improvement on the bitumen asphalt.”
He assured the government of availability of the minerals, adding that the company has entered into an agreement with the University of Ilorin in Kwara State to enhance the technology and to provide necessary technical support.