President Bola Tinubu has assured of the preparedness of the Federal Government to partner with states to bring growth and development to their citizens in the country.
Tinubu stated this at the groundbreaking ceremony of the 84km, N169.7 billon Bida-Minna Road in Kakakpagi, Katch Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, the President explained that for governments at all levels to grow, there must be cordial relationships.
He said the Bida-Minna Road would go a long way in easing the transportation of goods and services, thereby boosting economic activities in the state.
The President added: “The Federal Government will support Niger to ensure that the desired prosperity is derived. I am also a son of Niger and will be part of anything that will bring development to the people of the state.
“Also, road construction will save lives and create avenues for greater economic development.”
Niger state Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago in his remarks explained that the groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of the construction of the 84 km standard dual-carriageway with street lights, interchange, and underpass at both ends of the road.
According to him: “The Minna-Kataeregi-Bida Road is of immense economic importance to the region and the nation at large, it serves as a major link between the industrial hub of Lagos and the western parts of Nigeria to the Northern parts of the country.
“ The construction of this road is expected to reduce travel time, rate of accidents, and operational costs for vehicles and facilitate quick delivery of goods and services thereby accelerating socio-economic growth and the development of the citizens.”
Bago further stated that to achieve the best for the project, given the founding arrangements for the dualisation of the road, the project was split into three lots, with a completion period of 24 months
“In addition, we are also proposing that weighbridges be installed at the toll gate locations to ensure compliance with the legal axle load limits for the heavy axle trucks and articulated vehicles that will use the road,” Bago added.
Dignitaries who attended include the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, VON, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, the Niger State Speaker of the House of Assembly, two senators, representing Zone A and B in the Senate, APC national chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and all chairmen of the 25 local governments in the state.
