Niger State govt. announces closure of some major roads, provide alternative routes
The construction and reconstruction of roads across gathered momentum,Niger State Ministry of Works and Infrastructural Development has announced the closure/blockage of some roads to alternative routes for safety measures due to construction of Flyovers and underpasses in Minna, the state capital.
In a Press conference at the Conference Hall of the ministry, Monday, the Commissioner,Hon Suleiman Umar, alongside his Permanent Secretary, Engr. Hassan Mohammed Etsu stated that the reconstruction of the expressway which cuts across Minna city centre begins from Chanchaga Bridge and ends at Ahmed Bola Tinubu International Airport Junction, Maikunkele.
According to the Commissioner, Suleiman said the reconstruction of the Western Byepass begins from the city-gate near the state secretariat through Barikin-Sale and Kpakungu ends at Imurat Plastic Company junction, Tudun Fulani, adding that the Eastern Byepass reconstruction begins from the City-gate through M.I. Wushishi Housing Estate and bursts out at Dana pharmaceutical limited roundabout Maitumbi.
The Commissioner called on the general public to be aware of the new develppment and the alternative routes especially at the four major flyovers which includes the Mobil Roundabout with a span of one kilometre from Mobil through Obasanjo Shopping Complex to Stadium Junction.
The road has been diverted from Paiko Road Police Station through UK Bello to Sabon gari Road.
The Commissioner said that there is another diversion for commuters coming from Tunga at the Paiko Road Police Station through Piggery, Railway, Morris Fertilizer Company road.
Another diversion begins from Obasanjo Complex, Hospital Road to Ketaren Gwari, while another one picks from Obasanjo-Old Bomas to Kure Market Road.
Hon Suleiman added that there is another alternative route from Obasanjo, Old Secretariat to Book Roundabout and bursts at the Western Byepass.
He said that there is another one from Paiko Road Police Station-Up hill, down to David Mark Road; another from the Police station through NTA to Pension Board.
The commissioner appealed to the general public and commuters to exercise restraint to allow the contractors execute the work in the interest of the public.
The four main Flyovers according to the commissioner includes: 986.9 metre Mobil-Obasanjo-Stadium Junction, 748 metre Tunga Roundabout, 688 metre City-gate Roundabout, 540 metre Kpakungu (ISDB), and 525 metre Imani Junction Roundabout.
Suleiman Umar also reaffirmed that the Minna-Bida road construction is been handled by two contractors, Arab and Triacta, he assured that almost all compensations are been paid and others handled by the Consultant, including the quality control and management of the construction work.
In his remark, the Project Consultant, Engr. Olatunji E. Ajayi, told Journalists that the first phase of the project, which is from Chanchaga Bridge to Airport Junction, Maikunkele has attained 20% completion. While the second phase of the project which consists of the Western and Eastern Byepasses were in progress with the drainages been constructed and that, efforts were made to ensure residents have access to their buildings without much inconveniences.
Engr. Ajayi added that there is a project monitoring team comprising the ministry’s Engineers and the consultant that works round the clock to ensure quality of work according to specifications and timely delivery.
There are monitoring teams supervising the construction works in all the local government areas where work is ongoing.
