FROM SAMSON ALFA, Minna
Niger State government has debunked insinuations that the ongoing multi-billion naira urban renewal projects have been stalled due to paucity of funds.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Suleiman Ibrahim alongside the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Hassan Etsu stated this in a chat with journalists.
He said such rumours are not only false and misleading, but deliberate attempts to discredit government’s efforts in its transformational agenda.
Ibrahim said “such insinuations are misleading, unfair and false representation of government’s bold initiative towards making Niger State the best in infrastructural development.”
He disclosed that the slight slowdown of work in sections of the projects, especially the construction of the five overhead bridges and roads in Minna, is a direct consequence of the intense rainy season currently being experienced in the state and across most parts of the country.
“Heavy downpour and waterlogging have caused serious disruption for contractors to proceed with earthworks and road laying activities.
“Work has not stopped, what is happening is a strategic adjustment of operations due to the season. Contractors have been fully mobilised and funding is not an issue,” he noted.
According to him, “the contractors, particularly the Chinese firms handling the bridges, are currently concentrating on hydronic works and the concrete erection of bridge pillars. These are critical foundational activities that can still be undertaken even during the rains.”
Also on the issue of the 350 ad-hoc staff recently disengaged by Arab Contractors, one of the firms working on the urban renewal project in Bida, the commissioner clarified that the disengagement was temporary and necessitated by seasonal constraints.
He assured that the affected workers will be recalled by October when the rains begin to subside and full-scale construction activities resume.
Even at that, “they will still be enjoying certain incentives from the contractors during this off-season and all of them are expected to return to site as the dry season sets in,” stated.
The commissioner said the state government, under the leadership of Governor Mohammed Bago, remains fully committed to completing all ongoing projects, adding that modalities for there sustainable funding have been carefully and strategically worked out to avoid delay.
The commissioner, however, appealed to citizens of Niger State to be patient, supportive and understanding, noting that the urban renewal programme is a generational project that requires financial discipline and technical precision to achieve.
