By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
ASHENEWS reports that the Niger state government has set a target to construct 1,500 kilometers of roads in the next four years.
The state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago disclosed this on Thursday during the groundbreaking ceremony of the rehabilitation/ reconstruction of Minna Township Roads Phases I &II under the New Niger Urban Renewal Program.
The governor who described infrastructural development as a key agenda for his administration said that the state government was open to reconstructing some federal roads in the state to ease the hardship faced by residents.
He said that the government was already in talks with the federal government to initiate modalities for compensation for such projects.
The governor also announced that the state government was extending the size of Minna, the Niger state capital.
“Minna has extended its gates from the city gate to before you enter Paiko.
“The other city gate will be extended from Tudun Fulani until beji. Minna emirate is now 100 Square kilometers in size,” he declared.
In his remark, the Niger State Commissioner of Works and Infrastructural Development, Suleiman Umar, who described the project as one of the most ambitious urban development initiatives by any government in the history of Niger State, lauded the Niger State governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago for the initiative.
Giving a breakdown of the project, he said “The Minna township roads projects will include eight new roads as a bypass to open up the city of Minna. These new roads include Pago to Sabon Dagah (25km), Sabon Dagah to Beji (23km), and Pago to Gurusu along Sarkin Pawa Road (14km).
“Other new roads to be constructed are Tungan Goro to Birgi to Gidan Mangoro, Dutsen Kura Gwari to Gidan Mangoro, AP i.e. (Book) Roundabout to link Dutsen kura to Gidan Mangoro Road with a link through Gurara to Bida Road, then Kpakungu Roundabout to Old Secretariat Roundabout through Works Training School and the Morris Junction to Gidan Mangoro.”
Umar also announced plans by the state government to dualize some existing single-lane roads including Hospital Road through Lagos Road to Kasuwangwari to burst out through Uk Bello Arts Theater terminating at the Paiko Police Station Roundabout, David Mark Road to Maitumbi, Mobil Roundabout through City Center to Maitumbi, Imani Road to Birgi and from Maitumbi Roundabout to Maikunkele.
“Three existing two-lane dual carriage roads to be expanded to three-lane dual carriage roads, these include: The Chanchaga Bridge to Airport Junction dual carriageway, the Western Bypass (City Gate to Imurat) and the Eastern Bypass (City gate to Maitumbi) are all going to be expanded into three lanes befitting of a modern state capital,” he added.
On his part, the contractor handling the project, David Wang assured the state government that its ambitious targets for urban renewal would be fulfilled.
Wang said that the firm would place great emphasis on environmental protection, respect the traditions of the state, and also promote gender equality while undertaking the project.
