Senator Mohammed Sani Musa of Niger East Senatorial District has praised the decision of Works Minister David Umahi to revoke the stalled contract for the dualization of the 83-kilometer Minna-Suleja road, calling the move a “long-overdue intervention” in Niger State.

In a statement released Monday in Minna, Senator Musa highlighted that the contract, initially awarded in 2010 to Salini Nigeria Construction Company, had seen minimal progress despite the road’s deteriorating condition, which has led to frequent accidents and fatalities. According to Musa, Umahi’s decision offers renewed hope to the people of Niger State and showcases the minister’s commitment to fulfilling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s National Road Master Plan under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The Minister has taken a decisive step to address an urgent issue that has troubled the people of Niger State for over a decade,” Musa stated. “This revocation represents a commitment to ensure effective project delivery for the benefit of our communities.”

Senator Musa, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, noted that Minister Umahi recently convened a meeting with key stakeholders in Abuja to discuss challenges impeding 10 federal road projects across Niger State. During the meeting, former Niger State Governor Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago presented updates on each project, highlighting specific delays and the need for improved contractor performance.

Musa commended Minister Umahi’s firm stance on accountability, stating that the minister reprimanded underperforming contractors and staff within the ministry. Umahi reportedly warned that anyone found hindering project progress would face disciplinary action, including possible referrals to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a proactive response, Minister Umahi ordered the redesign and re-awarding of the Suleja-Lambatta-Minna road (Phases 1 & 2) and directed the contractor for the Bida-Lapai-Lambatta road to immediately resume work from the Bida-Lapai axis. Additionally, the minister committed to securing more funds for the Mokwa-Makera-Tegina road project in the 2025 budget.

Other local leaders, including APC chieftain and former Niger State Commissioner for Information Jonathan Vatsa, applauded President Tinubu’s administration for prioritizing infrastructure needs in the state. Vatsa contrasted this approach with the previous administration, stating that “despite strong support for President Buhari, Niger State saw little progress in essential areas like road development. President Tinubu’s actions are giving us hope.”

Senator Musa acknowledged the strong leadership of Governor Umar Bago, who, along with the state’s federal representatives, has worked closely with the Federal Ministry of Works to ensure that federal road projects in Niger are prioritized and meet quality standards. Musa concluded by urging the people of Niger State to support these developments, which he described as a turning point for road infrastructure in the region.

***says contractor lacks capacity

From John Adams, Minna

Niger state Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago has urged the Federal Government to revoke the contract for the Suleja-Minna road awarded to Salini Nigeria Limited since 2010, saying that the contractor lacks the necessary capacity to undertake the project.
The governor made the call in Minna on Wednesday during a Town Hall Meeting/Stakeholders Engagement on the construction of the 125KM:3- Lanes Single Carriage (Niger State Component) of the 1,068KM Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
The Governor while addressing the gathering explained that the call to terminate the contract had become expedien as it is clear that the company, Salini Nigeria Limited does not have the capacity to execute the road project effectively.
He observed that after 14 years the 83km road contract was awarded, only about 35 percent of the job has been achieved hence he demanded that the contract be terminated.
According to the governor, “I will look at this company in the face and say, Salini has failed, and the company doesn’t have the capacity.
We are calling on the Minister to revoke the contract and award it to Hi-Tech Construction Company or CCECC to handle, just like the way the Abuja-Kano road was revoked from Julius Berger recently”.
He also used the occasion to appeal to the federal government to refund monies invested by the Niger state Government to rehabilitate federal roads in the state, adding that “We have put in the State’s resources into the federal government roads project in Niger state and we are asking for refund. We did it because we have the same aspirations and dream with the federal government”.
Earlier, the Minister of Works, Senator Engr. Nweze David Umahi decried the poor state of federal roads in the state as well as others across the nation, saying that
“Many of these federal projects were awarded dating back to 2010 and have remained incomplete and abandoned by successive administrations”
On the Minna-Suleja road, the minister threatened to take a decisive action against the contractor handling the road project because of the obvious reason that it lacked the capacity to execute the work.
“The company cannot continue to collect money from the federal government for over 10 years without executing the project. I was initially told that work on Minna-Suleja road has reached 86℅.
“However, when I traveled on the road to Minna, I noticed nothing has been done, yet the contractor keeps collecting money on it”, he stated.
“The Bida-Lapai-Lambata Road is still at 64% completion despite awarding the contract over a decade ago.
“Presently, quality infrastructure and timely project completion are priorities for both state and federal stakeholders”.
Speaking on the importance of the stakeholders meeting, which focused on constructing the 125-kilometer, three-lane, single-carriageway Niger State segment of the larger 1,068-kilometer Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, the minister said, “The Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway is a federal road that will pass through several states, including Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, and Lagos, with 125 kilometers of the highway to be constructed in Niger State”.
Furthermore, various stakeholders who spoke during the town hall meeting on behalf of the communities affected by the Niger state component of the Sokoto-Badagry road project called on the federal government to ensure that compensations are duly paid to the people while pledging their support for the success of the project.

***Pledges Development for Border Communities

The Niger State government has called for the reopening of the Babanna land border in the Borgu local government area to revitalize economic activities and promote development in border communities.

This appeal was made by Alhaji Mohammed Garba Danladi, Director General and Chief Executive of the Niger State Babanna Border Development Agency (NIBBDA), during a stakeholder engagement meeting in Minna on Tuesday.

With the federal government’s recent approval for establishing border markets in Babanna, Danladi emphasized that reopening the border would enhance economic growth, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability.
“The Babanna border market, when fully operational, will not only improve the lives of the people in these communities but also address security challenges in the region,” he noted, adding that insecurity often arises in ungoverned areas.

Danladi highlighted the state government’s vision to develop Babanna by implementing sustainable projects that would provide essential social and infrastructural amenities. The agency’s focus includes improving education, healthcare, water supply, agriculture, and economic empowerment in the area.

To maximize the potential of the Babanna border market, NIBBDA has identified key opportunities such as fostering trade and foreign investments, supporting agriculture, and reducing rural-urban migration.
Danladi added that the agency would prioritize revenue generation, agricultural development, mineral resource management, trade liberalization, and basic infrastructure provision to drive the border’s growth.

The District Head of Wawa, Dr. Mahmoud Aliyu, stressed the importance of addressing security issues to ensure the market’s smooth operation. Although security has improved recently, Aliyu noted that banditry remains a challenge for Borgu local government and called on the state government to prioritize this issue.

Chairman of Borgu local government, Alhaji Yarima Kilishi, expressed optimism about the federal government’s approval of the Babanna border market and the establishment of an agency to oversee its development. He pledged the local government’s support for the market’s launch, which he believes will significantly boost revenue and economic activity in the region.