By IKENNA OSUOHA

The Federal Government on Friday said that work on Bida-Lapai-Lambata road project in Niger would resume soon to address the bad state of the road, save lives, property and insecurity.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Rep. Sa’idu Abdullahi, a Member Representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency of Niger

Abdullahi said that the Minster of Works, David Umahi, gave the assurance when he led a delegation of stakeholders under the aegis of the Coalition of Niger South Development Associations on a courtesy visit to Umahi.

Umahi, represented by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, said the government was committed to the project because it posed a great risk to commuters on the corridor.

He said President Bola Tinubu had given directives to complete the road repairs as part of measures to tackle insecurity in that part of the country.

The minister further said that there were important road projects being undertaken in Niger through tax credits.

“The greatest beneficiary of the NNPC tax credit scheme is in Niger. So both Niger and the South-South constitute 51 per cent of the entire tax credit.

“President Tinubu doesn’t make political statements as far as roads and bridges construction and rehabilitation are concerned,” he said.

Abdullahi reiterated the need for the federal government to complete the project because of its socio-economic importance.

The Chairman, Bida Forum, a pressure group, Malam Jameel Muhammad, appealed the minister to treat the road as emergency.

“The first we are requesting a remedial work on the black spots so that least the road will be passable.

“All we want is that in the next two months will begin to see something on ground in terms of mobilisation of contractors to the site,” he said.

“We want to have a monitoring team on ground which should include community representatives,” he said. (NAN)