***Says, initiative will open up Council areas in Niger
The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Abdulmalik Sarkindaji has described as a welcome development, the award of the contracts by state Governor Umar Mohammed Bago for the construction of five Kilometers of roads in each of the 25 local government areas of the state.
The speaker said, the road infrastructure which will be domiciled in each of the local government headquarters will open up the council areas in the state and enhance their economic growth.
The speaker who spoke when he led the people of his Constituency from Mariga local government on a Sallah homage as well as thank you visit to the Governor on Wednesday commended him for his foresight in conceving the idea of the roads.
He told the Governor that the deplorable condition of the rural roads in the state is better imagined than experienced, stressing that the people of some of the local government areas have not seen an asphalt overlayed road since they were created over 40 years ago.
He pointed out that access roads, especially at the rural areas remains very key to the success of the new Niger State and the agricultural revolution and food security agenda of the governor.
“We are here to thank you for approving the construction of five Kilometers roads in each of the 25 local government areas of the state which Mariga local government is a beneficiary. There is no doubt that these roads will open up the rural areas.
“Again your transformation and the new Niger agenda will not be complete without addressing the deplorable condition of the rural roads. That is why we think that it is a step in the right direction”.
Sarkindaji therefore assured the Governor of the assembly’s support towards achieving his new Niger agenda, adding that “we at the state assembly are ready to partner with you to achieve the common goal of transforming the state”.
Responding, the Governor thanked the speaker for providing quality leadership at the state house of assembly, saying that his administration has enjoyed a very cordial relationship with the lawmakers in the last ten months.
Governor Bago told his visitors that no part of the state will be marginalized in his transformation and new Niger agenda, adding that “my administration will work hard within the available resources to close the infrastructural gap at the rural areas and the state in general”.
He disclosed that the five Kilometers roads for each of the 25 local government areas is the first phase of his rural/urban transportation agenda, stressing that his administration has so far awarded contract for the construction of 1,000 kilometers of roads across the state out of which 400 kilometers are Federal roads and work is already ongoing.