Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State has called on the Federal Government to withdraw the contract for the Suleja-Minna road project, citing what he described as Salini Nigeria Limited’s insufficient capacity to handle the job.
During a Town Hall Meeting in Minna about the 125-kilometer Niger State section of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Bago voiced his disappointment, highlighting that Salini has failed to complete the project after 14 years.
“Salini doesn’t have the required capacity. We are asking the Minister to revoke the contract, as was recently done with the Abuja-Kano road contract with Julius Berger,” he asserted.
Bago also pressed for reimbursement from the Federal Government for Niger State’s investment in federal road repairs within the state, emphasizing the shared goals that led to these expenditures.
Minister of Works Senator Engr. Nweze David Umahi echoed the concern, noting the prolonged neglect of federal roads in Niger State, with projects started since 2010 still incomplete. He specifically criticized the handling of the Minna-Suleja road project, stating that claims of 86% completion are misleading, as recent site visits showed little actual progress.
Umahi also emphasized the significance of the stakeholders’ meeting, which discussed the Niger segment of the 1,068-kilometer Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway. This major federal route will span several states, including a 125-kilometer section in Niger State.