From Mathew Jwantu,
Minna
Niger State Government, in Collaboration with Rural And Mobility Project (RAMP) has expended over 9 billion naira for rehabilitation of 403 roads in the state.
The state Coordinator of the Project. Alhaji Hassan Baba made the disclosure while briefing news men in Government House Minna saying, the construction and rehabilitation of Rural Roads RAMP- 2 has completed rehabilitation of 176 kilometres of Rural Roads.
He explained that over 215 jobs have been created under the community-based Road Maintenance scheme.
To this end, a total of 215 kilometres roads rehabilitated under the first phase and pilot roads is under routine maintenance by 20 Road maintenance Groups with members selected from the communities along the rehabilitated roads of which 30% according to him, are female.
Alhaji Hassan stressed that the project has succeeded in reducing maternal mortality by 60% and a result of the improved access to health facilities in the intervention areas.
The Coordinator who pointed out that the project has increased school enrollment by 4% in the intervention areas, added that it has equally reduced travel cost by 40% and travel time by 50% in the intervention areas.
He emphasize that RAMP is poised to improve living standards of the rural dwellers due to resultant increase in the socioeconomic activities and income earnings in the intervention areas.
Meanwhile, schools and business activities were on Tuesday shutdown in Chachaga Minna Niger state over the deplorable conditions of the roads.
Eye witness account has it that parents of pupils/students of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Model Science School Chanchaga, on Monday received text massages telling them there will be no school on Tuesday due to the heavy gridlock from Minna City gate, to Chanchaga.
Recalled that the school was also closed for two days as a result of tanker accident which spills contents on the road. This forced the school to observed their midterm break last week
On that note, feelers through sample opinions, has it that RAMP should extend it tentacles to Chanchaga Minna roads as it is fast becoming a dead trap. And to also think of alternative road, from Minna city gate Through Chanchaga/Suleja road.
This will go a long way in reducing the pressure on Tungan Goro- Chanchaga bridge by trucks that spent hours on top of the bridge in gridlock resulting from deplorable conditions of the roads.
End