Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state during inspection of road project in Niger State

The Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Bello, says the delay in completion of Minna-Bida road is due to the pending payment of compensation to residents along the road.

Bello, who inspected some of the road projects within the state capital, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work on the 15.5km dual-carriageway, adding that he is optimistic that the road project would be completed within the specified time frame if work pace is sustained.

“Compensation is paid in stages and the state government has completed payment for the first stage. Very soon, the second stage payment will commence.

“With regard to the capacity of the company and the quality of work, I am satisfied. Hopefully, next week, we will start compensating those in second stage. If they continue at this pace, they will meet up as long as we don’t have any hitches as regards to funding,” the governor said.

The Project Manager at Dantata and Sawoe, Naafey bin Shaukat, disclosed that so far, almost 12km of the left hand side of the road has been asphalted, while work is ongoing on the right hand side from Kpakungu to Garatu.

Shaukat further stated that the firm was constructing 15.5km dual carriageway, adding that the state government had been very supportive.

The governor also visited other roads such as the 2.86km Old Alheri Road Tunga, the 2.25 Imani road, as well as a 3.2km canal at F-layouts 1 and 2.

While the governor expressed satisfaction with the work at the Old Alheri Road, he said he was not pleased with the pace of work at the Imani junction project, where 50 percent of the total sum had been paid to the contractor.

“The Tunga low cost road project is very good, the standard and the quality of work is good. They are doing the first one now and they also promised that by the end of October, they will lay asphalt on that road. So, we will wait and see but, so far, their work is commendable.

“The Imani road is a bond project and usually, with bond projects, there shouldn’t be any problem because the money is guaranteed.

“To be honest I wasn’t happy with the state of the road, even though the contractor has tried to convince me and had given excuses of rainy season and electric poles as some of the encumbrance.

“He, however, promised that in two months time’, we will see reasonable work done and if, after two months the work is not done, we will go back to the drawing board,” the governor said.