By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
The people of Gwada community in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State expressed their appreciation to Federal Government of Nigeria over its intervention which saw the collapsed and dilapidated sections of the Gwada -Shiroro Road.
The opportunity for the people to express themselves came as a team from the Federal Ministry of Works, led by the director, Information and Public Relations, Ahmed Mohammed, embarked on an assessment/commissioning media tour of projects in Niger State at the weekend.
The projects are part of the 260 Emergency/Special Intervention Projects inherited and being executed by the Renewed Hope Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking as the completed critically failed sections of the Gwada–Shiroro Road Section 1 in Niger State, alongside emergency Repairs of embankment Washouts and the construction of a 2-Cell Box culvert on the same alignment was being commissioned, the Mai Anguwa, Ward Head, of Gwada, the immediate benefitting community, Alhaji Alhassan Zarumi, said they were happy that life is now booming in the area following the rehabilitation.
Describing the road as a death trap before the intervention came, Alhaji Zarumi expressed appreciation to the Minister and Mr President as well as all other stakeholders who made the intervention successful, adding that the road is very critical as it serves as a link to the Shiroro Power Station and other surrounding towns and villages.
“If this place were not repaired, I wonder if we would be passing here today. Now, we can move freely and safely. We thank the federal government, the engineers, and the contractors for a job well done,” he said.
Another resident, Ibrahim Zakari, who spoke to *SUMMIT POST* on the sideline corroborated the Mai Angwa’s submission, saying “Before, moving goods such as farm produce across that point was almost impossible an accidents occured regularly, but now there is free flow of all manner of vehicles, so we’re very grateful to this government for what they have done here.”
Speaking during the brief commissioning ceremony, the Federal Controller of Works, FCW, in Niger State, Engineer Eyitayo Aluko, who described the intervention as “two projects in one” explained that the ceremony site was previously a critical failure point on the road, where a one-cell pipe culvert had collapsed due to its flawed design and overburdenedness.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Representative of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, Engineer Bala Saliu, who is also the chairman of the Engineering Regulation Committee of COREN, Niger State Chapter, commended the intervention, describing it as professional, timely, and impactful
“This intervention speaks for itself. The project has been put to use, and you can see the community’s happiness. Despite how remote this area is, its economic and social importance cannot be overemphasised,” he noted.
He added that similar critical areas exist across Niger State and expressed confidence that the federal government would continue to intervene to ease the challenges faced by commuters and residents.
The General Secretary, Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Minna Branch, Engineer Abubakar Kawu also hailed of quality of the work done and the prompt delivery of the two projects, describing the Gwada–Shiroro Road as a strategic route that required urgent attention.
According to him, the intervention has saved lives and boosted economic activities in the area.
In his remarks, the Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger State Chapter, Comrade Uriah Tsado Gana, who performed the commissioning, thanked President Tinubu and the Minister of Works for ensuring the successful completion of the project.
From Gwada, the Team proceeded to inspect ongoing works on the Bida–Lemu–Wushishi–Zungeru Road, Phase 1, which commences from Yesso Junction in Bida Town to Yazhigi, where about 16 kilometres of asphaltic binder course have been completed out of the 29.5-kilometer project length, representing about 40 per cent completion.
Giving an update on the progress of work, the Federal Controller who expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work being done there explained that the binder course within the next two months in two months time, after which the asphaltic wearing course will be applied.
The Project Manager of Gerawa Global Engineering Limited, Engineer Adam S. Adam, on his part highlighted the initial challenges faced during project execution, especially security concerns and attempted kidnappings.
He however submitted that with the support of the ministry, community leaders, and security stakeholders, these issues had been fully resolved and work is ongoing smoothly.
“We are now working day and night. The problems have been resolved completely, and the quality of work speaks for itself,” he stated.
Another strategic project underway in the State is the Jebba–Mokwa–Bokani Junction Road (Section II), which forms part of the Trans-Sahara Road Network, linking Lagos in the South West geopolitical zone to Northern Nigeria through Kwara State.
The route is a vital artery that carries heavy volumes of articulated traffic on a daily basis. And the project is redesigned as a Dual Carriageway with a pavement structure consisting of 7.3-metre-wide asphaltic concrete carriageways on each side, complemented by 3.0m and 2.75m wide surface-dressed shoulders.
Another port of call is the rehabilitation of the Minna–Zungeru–Tegina Road, Section I, also a major transportation link connecting Northern and Southern Nigeria and a vital route for the movement of industrial and agricultural goods, where works is ongoing, though not much has been achieved.
The road has suffered severe deterioration over the years, characterized by deep potholes, failed carriageway sections, frequent accidents, and prolonged travel time.
Section I of the project stretches 94.987 kilometres from Minna to Tegina, comprising a 10.90km dualised urban section within Minna town and an 84.087-kilometre single carriageway through inter-urban and non-urban areas.
Similarly, Section II of the Minna–Zungeru–Tegina Road, covering the Tegina–Kontagora axis, is also receiving intervention. This section is a single carriageway extending from Tegina to Kontagora, with its zero chainage at a Y-Junction off the Mokwa–Makera–Kaduna State border road and terminating at the Kontagora roundabout.