N4b spent on Minna-Suleja Road still not enough — Niger Government

Following the unending deplorable state of the Minna-Suleja Road, which has been abandoned by the Federal Government, the Niger State Government has disclosed that the over N4 billion spent is not enough.
It should be noted that following the two weeks persistent gridlock experienced along the Minna-Suleja Road as well as Minna-Bida Road, the Governor directed the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructural Development to carry out emergency repairs of all the major bad portions along Suleja-Minna Road.
Speaking to journalists on Monday in his office, the state Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructural Development, Engr. Abubakar Sadeeq Balarabe, said the capacity of the road has been defeated.
According to Balarabe: “The state government has spent over N4 billion on the 92km Minna-Suleja Road for the past few years, but each time it is fixed, articulated vehicles destroy the roads.
“The life span of the road is already expired, even the design life span is obsolete.
“And so, the state government is reconstructing the roads.
“We have finished the 30km Kwakuti-Lambata Road, and now we are facing the Kakaaki-Minna Road.
He however called on the Federal Government to reconsider the Minna-Suleja Road, saying it is more important than other approved road projects because of the consistent usage.
While lamenting that heavy articulated vehicles are one of the major reasons for the incessant deplorable state of the roads, the Permanent Secretary said Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has ordered for a weigh bridge.
According to Balarabe: “To see that these articulated vehicles do not destroy constructed roads anymore, Mr. Governor has ordered for a weigh bridge and the installation of Barricades.”
Furthermore, Balarabe assured that by early 2020, works for a dual carriage would start on the 86km Bida-Minna Road as “we are going to take a loan from the Islamic Development Bank”.