Niger State Government has closed down Minna-Bida state-owned road to articulated vehicles due to it deplorable condition and to allow for speedy reconstruction of the road.
The official closure of the road on Monday night took place with a barricade to stop the heavy trucks from accessing the road in Bida, a statement by Mrs. Mary Noel-Berje, the
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State, said.
The closure of the road is coming after the state government had announced the shutting of all its roads to articulated vehicles some weeks back.
The Minna-Bida road, which has witnessed incessant breakdown of articulated vehicles on the road, has
caused untold hardship on commuters..
Other roads closed are; Lapai-Paiko, Chanchaga Bridge-Maikunkele, Muye-Lapai, and Zungeru w- Wushishi roads.
The Government assured that the restriction of articulated vehicles on the state-owned roads would be effective as series of critical stakeholders meetings have been held and the stakeholders are in support of the decision stressing that the closure only affects the state-owned roads.
The State Government warned that the owner of any articulated vehicle caught on the closed roads will have himself to blame, as the Government has made widespread publicity on its closure.
Government however enjoined its citizens to show some level of understanding as it is not unaware of the inconveniences the restriction will cause, adding that the closure is in the over all interest of the state.
Some of the drivers of the trailers also welcomed the development of the closure saying they are in full support, hoping that the restriction will bring about the desired result.
Yusuf Ahmed, an articulated vehicle driver who was coming from Bauchi State and caught up in the barricade said it happened due to an accident on the Minna-Bida Road and appealed for consideration, adding that Minna-Bida Road was the only motorable road now as that of Bida-Agaie-Lapai-Lambata and Tegina-Birnin roads are in bad condition.
He said that the presence of bandits and kidnappers along other routes was also an impeding factor.
With the developments, the initial 18 dry months time frame for completion of the Minna-Bida Road is no longer feasible due to some challenges, as such the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure will adopt measures to enable the contractors complete the project on a good time .
The Chairman of the infrastructure and monitoring committee, who is also the Chief of staff to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe, in company with other team members from relevant ministries, departments and agencies presided over the closure of the road.
The government statement noted with the closure of all State owned roads to heavy duty trucks in the state, it is hoped that the attention of the relevant Federal authorities will be drawn to the State as it is hosting most of the Federal Roads in the country, bearing in mind that it is connecting the Northern and the Southern parts of the country.
