Less than two days after the federal executive Council approved the takeover of the dualization of Minna-Bida road by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC), the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has told the All Progressives Congress APC Government led by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello that it observes an incoherent communication from the Niger State Government in the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) $181million loan, $86.6million saying “it is assuming another dimension”.
The PDP in a statement signed by its Chairman Barrister Tanko Beji and made available to Journalists on Thursday charged the Niger state government to channel billions of Naira earlier earmarked for the Minna-Bida to clear backlog of salaries of workers, pensioners and for other infrastructural development that has suffered neglect.
It should be noted that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday gave approval to the NNPC to fix 21 federal roads to include the 791.1km Minna-Bida road at the sum of N621billion.
Tanko Beji noted that “before the expiration of the PDP’s administration in Niger state, the then Government soughted for a loan of $181 million from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to dualize the Minna- Bida road for ease of movement and expand the economic activities flowing from Southern part of the country to up north.
“This loan didn’t come in before the coming of the Governor Abubakar Sani Bello led APC administration in the State”.
He said ever since it has been from one story to the other, adding that “in 2019, Governor Sani Bello confirmed the existence of the loan request but said the funds are yet to be received, yet the contract for rehabilitation of Bida- Minna road single loan was awarded at the sum of N24billion till date work done is below pass mark.
Accordingly, he said “we are advising the Niger state APC Government led by Governor Sani Bello, that with the takeover by NNPC, all funds related to or budgeted or sourced for the purpose of the “dualization” “upgrade “ or “rehabilitation” whichever may be suitable should be used for the purpose of clearing backlog of Salaries of poor workers, pensioners and for other infrastructural development that has suffered neglect since the coming of APC led Government, that is unable to fix common street lights”.
It should be recalled that, the then Commissioner of works and current Chief of Staff to the Governor, Ibrahim Balarabe had in September, 2018 told Newsmen that N2 billion was being spent on reconstruction of the same road.
The PDP Chairman explained that “in September 2021, the APC led Government of Niger State confirmed that $86.6 million (almost N50billion at current exchange rate) has been approved by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for the “upgrading” of the same Minna – Bida road.
“And less than a 48 hours ago, the NNPC is now going to “fix” or “take over” the “repairs” of the Minna -Bida road among others listed, and this announcement came from the Federal executive council through the Minister of works, Babatunde Raji Fashola”.
Beji said further that “the monotonous confounding communication is deliberate, and the PDP believes; it is to confuse the people on the deliberate effort geared at profiteering on the plight of the people that has seen the Minna – Bida road blocked several times by motorists.
“The PDP wish to alert Nigerlites and Nigerians that, the Minna – Bida road is a very important artery that should not be joked with, but should be dualized as planned by the past PDP administration since funds available to the state and or NNPC would be enough to do so”.
