No fewer than 22 communities where the Federal Government Sokoto-Badagry superhighway passes through farmlands in Niger State are demanding compensation for damages caused them.
The community members who made the demands during a town hall meeting and stakeholders engagement for the construction of the 125-kilometre 3-lane single carriage 1,068 kilometres Flag off, however, pledged total support and cooperation for the execution of the project.
Niger is one of the many states with a large concentration of federal roads, but these roads have been dilapidated for years.
Though the present state government has taken over the construction of some of them the federal government has decided to revisit others and initiate new ones.
The 125-kilometres 3 lanes, single-carriage Niger State component of the 1068-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry superhighway is one among them.
This town hall meeting and stakeholder engagement are ahead of the flag-off of the construction of the Niger State component to seek the cooperation and support of the communities.
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A total of about 22 communities affected by the construction of the 125-kilometre superhighway are demanding adequate compensation even as they pledged total support.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, while responding to the demands, said the issue will be looked into and sorted out, putting the completion date of the project to between 6 to 7 years from the date of the flag off.
While lamenting the very bad state of roads in the state as well as across the country, Umahi said the federal government will continue to revoke the contracts of non-performing construction companies.
The minister further added that for the project to be durable and long-lasting, it will be done using concrete pavements.
Niger State Governor Umar Bago, who revealed plans to establish a cement manufacturing company due to abundant mineral resources, called on the minister to revoke the contract agreement with Salini company for what he termed ‘poor execution of projects’ in the state.
The town hall and stakeholders meeting also urged the federal government, with a matter of urgency, to look into the dilapidated federal roads to make the lives and agricultural drive of both the federal and state governments come to reality.
(Editor : Ena Agbanoma)
