Trailer Drivers Decries Deplorable FG Bida- Lambata Road Abandoned in Niger

By YM Bina

Trailer and tanker drivers plying the Bida, Agaie, Lapai to Lambata road in Niger state that connects North and Southern part of Nigeria have expressed dismay over the deplorable condition of the road which in most cases delays their journey for over one week in the area due to unnecessary hold off.

A driver with A.Y.M.Shafa Holdings Limited, Malam Dauda Ciroma who stated this in an interview with Newsmen at the Bida Badeggi road where they have stayed for two days,however lamented that the road has been neglected by successive governments administration over the years.

Dauda Ciroma explained that Niger state roads which served as the gateway to the Southern and Western parts of Nigeria from the Northern region deserved to be accorded prominence by the Federal Government.

He added that Niger state Government on its part should have embarked on the construction of such roads to demand compensation from the Federal Government.

Ciroma however appealed to the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency commence the construction of the work without delay as it has since been approved but abandoned such project, that has been impacting negatively on the lives of Nigerians especially motorists, tanker drivers and passengers plying the route.

According to him, the Federal Government loses millions of naira due to the delays and gridlock experiencing in the area for over three years and called for urgent step to reduce their hardship.

Another tanker driver Malam Abubakar Bello said some time they stayed on the road for two days in one place without moving an inch, due to hold off which he described as sad and pathetic for the plight experienced.

Abubakar Bello.however emphasized that in the process of waiting sometimes their tankers develop some mechanical problems while on their part they spent huge sum of money for their feeding and other expenses on their way due to the delayed.

He added that the loss of lives and properties as a result of bad nature of the road was alarming and stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to address the difficulty which has negative impacts economically.

It could be recalled that the contract awarded for the construction of that particular roads started since the tenure of former president Goodluck Jonathan from Lambata to Mokwa in which he succeeded in completing Bida to Mokwa. Late President Muhamadu Buhari’s government from Lambata to Lapai while Bida to Lapai less than 50km has since been abandoned.