By Mohammed Baba Busu
Gov. Mohammed Umar-Bago of Niger on Thursday signed a contract with two firms for the construction of the Bida ring road and rehabilitation of Minna township roads.
Umar-Bago said that a bypass from Pago to Garatu is among over 20 roads to be done under the Minna township roads project.
He also explained that the bye-pass will be constructed around an area covering 100,000 square kilometres while the Bida ring road will be around 40,000 square kilometres.
Umar-Bago said the road projects were in line with his Urban renewal programme, adding that both the Minna and Bida projects are under phase one of the programme.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) will handle the township road rehabilitation in Minna within 24 months
The ring road project in Bida will be executed by Arab contractors within 30 months.
The governor further said the second segment of the Minna township roads rehabilitation project has been advertised.
According to him, the projects would open up the areas and generate about N1 trillion and N200 billion respectively, which will be used to finance more projects.
He assured the contractors of security while warning that the government would not entertain requests for variations.
“Funds have already been earmarked for the projects with a 25 per cent advance payment guaranteed,” he said.
Umar-Bago directed the contractors to work with indigenes, especially the youth, adding that a register would be opened for those interested in being part of the projects.
The governor also announced that similar road contracts for Suleja and Kontagora will be signed in the next 30 days.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, of the Ministry of Works, Alhaji Hassan Baba-Etsu said the projects were unprecedented in the history of the state.
He added that the contractors were carefully selected through a thorough process.
Also speaking, the Managing Director, of CCECC, David Wang and that of Arab Contractors, Mohammed Eledaruis assured the government of the timely completion of the projects.
On his part, the Project Consultant, Olatunji Ajayi, said the projects will have multiplier effects on the economy of the state.
NAN reports that the state Commissioner of Works, Alhaji Suleiman Umar, signed the contract on behalf of the government while Wang and Eledaruis signed for their respective firms.
He said that the two projects would create 2,500 direct jobs and 12,000 indirect jobs. (NAN)
