BY EDMOND ODOK – Following the tanker explosion at Essa Village, CH.97+000, along Lambata-Lapai-Bida Road in Niger State on Tuesday, the Federal Government has deployed emergency committee to work with the contractor handling the project, CGC Nigeria Limited, on palliative rehabilitation of the road.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi gave the directive on Thursday after a meeting with the delegation of National Assembly members from Niger State, the Niger State Governor and the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
This is as the Minister also joined other Nigerians to condole with the families of those who lost their lives, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, and the people of Niger State over the unfortunate tanker inferno.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media, Barrister Orji Uchenna Orji and made available to newsmen in Abuja, Engineer Umahi, said the emergency committee will immediately move to Niger State, working with the project contractor to do the needful in terms of reconstructive palliative on the affected road.
The statement noted that the project was initially NNPC-funded, but in view of the NNPCL’s withdrawal from the funding scheme nationwide, the President, Bola Tinubu, has directed that all the inherited ongoing projects hitherto funded by NNPC be reviewed and presented to him, and that no such projects should be stopped for the reason of the exit of NNPCL from the funding scheme.
The statement further said, “The Federal Ministry of Works has reviewed all such projects, and the projects will by next week be presented to Mr. President.”
Accordingly, the Minister has charged all contractors on the project, especially those who have generated certificates for payment, to go back to the site while expecting their payment from November 2025.
He assured that the Renewed Hope Administration of Mr President is committed to building enduring road infrastructure nationwide and ensuring sustainable growth and prosperous economy by leaving behind a legacy of massive and solid road infrastructure for Nigeria’s future generation.
