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- Says bad roads fuelling Insecurity in state
From John Adams, Beatrice John, Minna
The Niger State House of Assembly has appealed to the federal government to as a matter of urgency, come to the aid of the state government towards addressing the deplorable condition of federal roads in the state.
The House said bandits, insurgents and other criminal elements have continue to take advantage of the bad condition of these roads to unleash terror of innocent travellers and residents.
The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, stated this on Tuesday in his remarks during the presentation of this year’s budget to the House by the governor, Rt. Hon Umar Mohammed Bago.
The Speaker said the entire federal roads in the state are in the state of dilapidation and this he maintained has made both commercial and economic lives very difficult and miserable.
Of great concern to the Speaker was the way and manner, bandits, insurgents and other criminal elements take advantage of the bad spots of these roads to unleash terror on the people.
Sarkindaji listed some of these roads to includes, Minna-Zungeru-Kontagora roads, Kontagora-Rijau road, Minna-Suleja road, Kontagora-Bangi road and Bida-Minna road.
He said these roads are urgently begging for attention, adding that “we therefore appealed to the federal government to urgently undertake construction of these roads in the fiscal year.”
The Speaker pointed out that the appeal has become necessary”because Niger State is one of the stronghold of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the country, and it is important that our people should have value for their electoral decision and sacrifice for the party.”
He nonetheless commended the federal government for ongoing intensive and successful military operations against the Bandits and other insurgents across the state, stressing that peace in the state is critical to the federal capital, the seat of government.
“It is worthy of mention that in this year’s farming season, farmers were able to harvest their farm produce without hindrance by these criminals.”
He equally gave credits to the governor and his administration for bringing to an end, the incidences of streets fighting in Minna the state capital which had become a norm in the past, leading to lose of lives, disruption of economic activities and lose of revenue.
The Speaker then commended the governor for maintaining positive relationship with the legislative arm of the government which he said has translated to the little achievements so far recorded by his administration since may 29.
“I commend the vision and leadership by the governor in crafting a budget that echoes the aspirations of our state. Together through the successful marriage of policy and fiscal responsibility, we are sowing the seeds of a prosperous, environmentally conscious for the state. Let us continue to work hand in hand to nurture this green revolution and real the bountiful rewards it promises for generations to come.”
