Niger State to construct bridge linking 30 rural communities

Niger State Government has intensified efforts in completing road and bridges linking rural communities across the state to facilitate farming and commercial activities in the State.

The Governor of the State, Alhaji Abubàkar Sani Belllo stated this during  a site visit  to a bridge construction linking over 30 communities in Izom district of Gurara Local Government area of the state , said  funds will soon be made available to complete the ongoing project.

“It was supposed to be a 3 box culvert but you can see from delay due to lack of payments. The river has expanded it with 8 cells. If the project was completed on time I don’t think we will spend more than we budgeted for. 

 “Now it will cost us more than we initially planned, we must complete it this year because it is a priority project. The contractor on the site has assured me that, with the required funding, within the next 2 weeks there will be progress here”, he said.

Some of the challenges constraining the bridge project according to the project managers have to do with the activities of artisanal gold mining within the construction site of the bridge.

The Governor however warned those indulged in the mining activities of the health and environmental hazard associated with that.

“We are urging people engaged in a artisanal mining in the communities to follow proper channel due to insecurity, environmental and health hazards associated with the business”

The Chairman of Gurara Local Government, Yusuf Wali who appreciated the efforts of the State Government in rural roads projects, said that completion of the Burum Bridge in Izom district will ease the hardship of the people which has affected them both socially and economically.

The contractor in charge of the bridge construction at Burum, Alh. Mohammed Ismaila Danbaba said,“the project, started in 2017, as FADAMA project but Niger State Agricultural and Mechanization Development Agency (NAMDA) took over the project due to the directive given by the State Governor to increase the size of the project, assuring that with availability of funds, the bridge will be completed in two weeks’ time”.

The contractor said the contract, which was earlier billed for over 30 Million Naira, has now been reviewed to over 48 Million Naira as a result of high cost of materials to be used.

Dominica Nwabufo