Tinubu Government Halts Road Construction to Niger Republic Border

The Bola Tinubu-led government has stopped the road construction from Biu-Kanga-Gaya to the border of Niger Republic, which was initially estimated to cost about 158 billion Naira.

This decision was announced by the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Monday at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja.

In the same meeting, the government approved the construction of 28 roads and bridges across the country worth over 1.2 trillion Naira.

These projects were approved after going through the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and obtaining the necessary Certificates of No Objection.

Among the approved projects is the construction of the Buruku bridge across the Katsina Ala River in Benue State, which is estimated to cost over 83.7 billion Naira.

Additionally, approval was granted for the construction of 91.432 roads in Saki, Oyo State, with a budget of 144 billion Naira.

It is worth noting that in 2020, the Muhammadu Buhari government approved N29.2 billion for the construction of two roads linking two Northern states to the border of Niger Republic.

The former Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, stated that a 46-kilometer road from Balle in Sokoto State to Niger Republic would cost N9.5 billion, while the second project, a 50-kilometer road from Kunia in Jigawa State to the Niger Republic border, was estimated at N19.7 billion.

Both projects were expected to be completed within a 24-month period.

As the new administration takes charge, the fate of these road construction projects remains uncertain.

The decision to halt the Biu-Kanga-Gaya road construction to the Niger Republic border may have significant implications for regional connectivity and trade between Nigeria and its neighboring countries.