Stakeholders in Niger State have called on Gov. Abubakar Bello to declare a state of emergency on deplorable state of roads and poor facilities in the education sector of the state.
The stakeholders made the call during a Stakeholders Interactive Session on the state of Affairs in the state in Minna on Tuesday.
The interactive session was organised by Niger Government to discuss and proffer solutions on the challenges facing the state.
The stakeholders called on the state government to come up with programmes of reorientation for the youths so as to reduce the use of substances among them.
Hajiya Zainab Kuchi, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and one of the stakeholders, advised the governor to declare a state of emergency on trunk-A roads and primary schools across the state.
She urged the state government to intervene on Lapai-Gulu road that serves as alternative route to Kogi State.
“As am talking, that road is mostly being followed by trucks and the road is in bad shape. Also primary schools are in bad shape and in need of serious intervention,” she said.
Also, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, called on the state government to address the security challenges in the state as well as the deplorable state of Bida-Minna road.
Similarly, the Deputy Whip of the Senate, Abdullahi Sabi, said that the Bida-Lambata roads should be completed so as to reduce the pressure on Minna-Bida road.
Responding, the disclosed that the federal government had given approval for the construction of three Federal roads in the state in order to reduce the pressure on Minna-Suleja road by trucks.
He called on the transport union to discipline their members against blocking of road and indiscriminate parking of articulated vehicles within communities.
Mr Bello said that plans were underway to come up with a law against articulated vehicles loading fuel above 33,000 litres, thereby putting pressure on the roads.
He disclosed that government was taking measures to address security challenges in the state especially within Minna township.
On education, the governor said that government had established Teachers Professional Development Institute, TPDI, to address the problem of unqualified teachers in schools.
He noted that the forum would assist Government to re-strategies on workable plans for prevention, mitigation and improvement on the constitutional responsibilities of security of the people and their welfare.
