From Yakubu Mustapha Minna
Niger State Government has signed a contract agreement with a private consultancy firm to provide consultancy services to the State Government for the construction of 556km of roads across the 25 Local Government Areas of the state.
A statement issued by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman disclosed that the measure is aimed at addressing the infrastructural deficit and as well boost economic growth within the State.
According to the SSG, the State struggles with an infrastructural deficit exceeding over seventy percent, with its road network standing at the core of this challenge, for Niger State to achieve sustainable economic growth, developing a good road network is key to achieving the goal.
Alhaji Usman further revealed that the roads construction will promote agriculture, trade, industry, and commerce among the populace and help the State to achieve higher economic growth.
The SSG said, a total of twenty-four identified roads, spanning a collective distance of 556 km, consisting of 100km Minna township road, 50km each in Bida Suleja and Kontagora towns, 5km in each of the 17 Local Government areas, Rafi, Agwara – Borgu 90km, Rijau – Kontagora 90km and dualization of Kakaki to Minna 41km respectively.
The SSG hinted that due process has been followed which will be on a performance-based contract and expected to be funded by a consortium of banks, the loans are to be repaid through the increased Internal Generation Revenue (IGR), improved Federal allocation owing to the removal of fuel subsidy and major roads that can be tolled.
He asserted that the exercise is to be concluded on the fifth of September, giving way for the groundbreaking scheduled to commence by November, 2023 and project completion by December 2025.