Niger State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Suleiman Umar, has expressed optimism that the New Niger dream of Governor Mohammed Bago to improve infrastructure in the state is progressing steadily and effectively.
Umar and his counterpart in the Ministry of Planning Commission, Mustapha Ndajiwo, gave the assurance when they led the project monitoring team to inspect ongoing road projects in Minna, the state capital.
He disclosed that the contractors handling various road projects were on course; hence, the need for frequent monitoring to ensure timely delivery.
According to him, the Bago government is poised to change the narrative by improving infrastructure across the state.
On the Minna/Bida road project, the commissioner expressed disappointment over the slow pace of work and warned that the government would no longer condone any firm breaching contractual terms.
The state government, he added, will soon take necessary measures to address the challenges confronting the Minna/Bida road project.
He said: “It is quite disheartening that the project awarded by the immediate past administration with the down payment of about 67 per cent is still at 40 per cent completion.”
I have invited the contractor for discussion.”
In their separate submissions, the project manager and project consultant regretted the slow pace of the project and promised to do all they could to resume work soonest.
Ndajiwo, on his part, stressed that the era of collecting contract mobilisation and going to sleep is gone, vowing to sanction any contractor that tried to play smart with the government.
He expressed satisfaction with the contractors handling other road projects in the state, noting that with the level and quality of work done so far, the New Niger vision is achievable.
Projects inspected by the monitoring team include: Chanchaga Dual Carriageway, Leprosy Road, Tagwai Dam Road, Maitumbi Bypass, Kolawole Road, as well as Minna/Bida Road, among others.
Some residents and road-users that spoke to The Guardian lauded the governor for his giant strides since he assumed office and assured of support and prayers to his programmes and policies to enable him succeed.
