The federal government is set to fast-track significant federal road and bridge initiatives in Niger State, as escalating traffic demands and structural issues pose risks to key transportation arteries connecting the northern and southern parts of the country.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced this in Abuja following a productive meeting with Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago. The discussions centered on enhancing cooperation to tackle increasing congestion, infrastructure decline, and safety hazards along federal highways within the state.
Umahi highlighted the commitment of the Bola Tinubu administration to expedite the completion of ongoing projects. He emphasized that road infrastructure is a collective national responsibility, transcending jurisdictional boundaries. This point was made in a statement released on Wednesday by Mohammed Ahmed, the Director of Information and Public Relations.
The Minister acknowledged the Niger State Government's contributions to several federal road corridors, noting that interventions in Minna, Bida, and Suleja have demonstrably improved travel and stimulated economic activity.
A primary focus of their deliberations was the 71-kilometre Minna–Suleja Road, a vital link connecting the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the North Central geopolitical zone. Umahi confirmed that the project has secured approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and is awaiting consideration by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
He further assured that President Tinubu has directed that this project be given top priority, and confirmed that reimbursements would be made for funds already expended by the Niger State Government on emergency repairs.
Regarding the Jebba and Lambata bridges, the Minister indicated that integrity assessments are currently underway, along with repairs to expansion joints. These measures are necessitated by concerns over the effects of heavy traffic and prolonged congestion.
Umahi cautioned that activities such as indiscriminate parking, roadside trading, and the congregation of heavy-duty vehicles on bridges are hastening structural degradation.
"Bridges are engineered for the dynamic movement of traffic, not for static weight," Umahi stated. He added that the ministry would collaborate with transport unions, tanker driver associations, and other stakeholders to safeguard critical national infrastructure and prolong the service life of major bridges.
The Minister also revealed that all road projects funded by the NNPC nationwide have now been transferred to the Ministry of Works for oversight, as per a presidential directive. He mentioned that funding structures are being finalised to ensure the uninterrupted progress of these projects and instructed ministry officials to submit comprehensive status reports on all federal road projects in Niger State to facilitate prompt interventions where necessary.
Governor Bago, in his address, stressed Niger State's pivotal role as Nigeria's central transport hub, linking the North and South. He noted that over 100,000 trucks traverse major routes in the state daily, placing immense pressure on road and bridge infrastructure.
The governor expressed concerns about severe traffic jams, escalating security risks, and infrastructure deterioration along key routes, including Jebba–Lambata–Minna–Suleja. He called for immediate action on the Jebba Bridge and other heavily used bridges, emphasizing the necessity for integrity testing, traffic management solutions, and accelerated rehabilitation to prevent potential catastrophic failures.
Bago also commended the federal government's adoption of concrete pavement technology for the Abuja–Kaduna Expressway and advocated for the extension of this durable construction method to other major highways across the nation.
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