The House of Representatives has mandated the Ministry of Works to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including Niger State Government, Security Agencies, and Transport Unions to ensure sustained effective traffic management.
It also called on the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Federal Road Safety Corps to immediately deploy personnel and resources to complement the efforts of Niger State Government which has so far constituted a Task Force to alleviate the situation and restore free flow of traffic.
The House also directs the Ministry to conduct an emergency assessment of the condition of the road, engage the contractor handling the project to ascertain reasons for delay in execution in a bid to proffer long-term solutions to prevent future occurrences.
The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion on the ” Urgent Need To Address The Gridlock On The Suleja-Lambata-Bida Highway In Niger State That Cpuld Lead To Loss Of Lives And Breakdown Of Law And Order,” sponsored by :
Mr. Saidu Musa Abdullahi
Mr. Abdullahi Idris Garba
Mr. Shehu Saleh Rijau
Mr. Abdullahi Mahmudu
Mr. Ja’afaru Mohammed
Mr. Joshua Audu Gana
Mr. Ismaila Musa Modibbo
Mr. Adamu Tanko Suleja
Mr. Yusuf Kure Baraje and
Mr. Abdul Buba Abubakar
The House notes that for the past six days, an unprecedented 18-kilometer gridlock between Lambata and Suleja has crippled the flow of traffic on Suleja-Lambata-Bida highway in Niger State, holding vehicles – tankers, lorries, trucks, and trailers – and motorists hostage.
“Also notes that this road is one of the busiest and most critical federal highways in the nation connecting and facilitating the movement of people, goods, and services, including essential and perishable items between Northern and Western States,Informed that the gridlock is caused by some major potholes along Maje to Dikko Junction, a key artery to the nation’s capital city, Abuja.
“Further informed that in light of this situation, small vehicles on emergency journeys have been compelled to take alternative bushy routes via Izom to Suleja; a route fraught with security threats;
“Worried that the current situation has resulted in huge losses in valuable man-hours, impacted negatively on perishable goods especially Agricultural produce posing severe implications on the economy of the nation and has also heightened the risk of accidents and has made the area prone to criminal activities, thereby compromising the safety of commuters and residents alike.
“Also worried that road users have been subjected to hunger, poor health condition and untold hardship due to their inability to access quality food, healthcare and transport themselves and goods effectively;
” Disturbed that reports from credible sources indicated that a corpse was discovered abandoned along this alternative route yesterday;Also disturbed that the ugly situation poses a serious threat to national security and the well-being of Nigerian citizens.
Acknowledged that the Federal Government awarded the contract for the reconstruction and dualization of the first phase of this vital road since 2010 and the second phase in 2015 but even efforts to provide alternative funding through the Presidential Tax Credit Scheme has not yielded the desired result as the pace of work has been alarmingly slow,” the motion said.
The in adopting the motion mandated the House Committee on Works and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance to the resolutions.
Lateefah Ibrahim
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