AL-HAU24news

FROM MIJINYAWA BABA-AGAIE

Construction workers have abandoned sites as a result of the incasant activities of armed bandits after federal government had mobilized them to commence work on the roads, the federal controller of work in Niger state Engr.Mosood Adekunle Samotu has disclosed.

He stated that due to the frequent and continued attack of the armed bandits along Kontagora Bangi and Rijau roads the construction workers have to run for the safety of their lives.


“Bandits have chased our construction workers from sites as a result of the activities of armed bandits after the federal government had mobilised them to begin work on the roads” he explained.




The Chinese construction firms, including; Gilmor, CBC, HMF and ENERCO Contrucruon Companies had to abandon the roads for three years pending when the security agencies would clear the bandits from those sites.


Niger State Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Samotu Moshood who made this known in an interview with journalists in his federal Secretariat office Friday, said very soon work will begin on the sites as soldiers have been mobilized to mount guard on all the Federal roads.


“Minna-Zungeru-Kontagora-Rijao road and Kontagora-Bangi Roads have been awarded since 2013 but there’s nothing the contractors could do because the bandits chased them out of sites. Especially Kontagora-Bangi. But fortunately for us, the contractor handling Kontagora Rijao, have resumed back to site after running away from that site for close to three years.


“Also, Kontagora-Bangi Road, they are about to resume. Two months ago the soldiers were deployed to the place and we have seen now they’re ready to resume. They have promised us. I even held meeting with them two weeks ago.


“But this one you mentioned Mokwa- Tegina Road, the same thing. Bandits chased them away but it has been reawarded and the contractor will resume,” Moshood said.


Niger State has the largest number of federal roads in the country and most of them have remained in a deplorable condition because the construction firms awarded the contracts have been afraid to send workers to the sites because of the fear of bandits who harass their workers.


Moshood expressed confidence that with the deployment of military personnel to the sites, the contractors will be ready to conclude the work.


He, however, pointed out that the incident in which some bandits in Niger State killed 36 soldiers last week would dampen the morale of the soldiers and the construction workers, stressing that something must have to be done to ensure that the workers returned to site.


“Actually, it can affect their morale, but with encouragement from us and when government is involved, I think it will help the situation. And then, the government too is trying to make sure that those areas are free of bandits. I think it will not affect them much. But there is no way it will not affect them at all.


“The workers will be protected. For instance that section 2 that I mentioned, they are giving them 35 military personnel and I think some of the other sites have similar deployment.


“Niger State will soon enjoy good roads, the past government they actually tried because we have NNPC funding about nine of the roads. Then, apart from the main budget and then the one that SUKUK is funding if the contractors follow the plan, in the next three to four years youll see Niger State will have very good roads,” he said.