The Home of Representatives has blamed the deplorable situation of the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko Highway and weak enforcement of security requirements for recurring tanker explosions and deadly accidents in Niger State, which have claimed a number of lives and destroyed property price tens of millions of naira.
This adopted the adoption of a movement of pressing nationwide significance titled “Pressing Want for Intervention on the Recurrent Tanker Explosions, Deadly Accidents, and Gridlock Alongside the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko Highway in Niger State”, sponsored by Rt Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi (SMA), representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency.
Abdullahi, whereas transferring the movement throughout Wednesday’s plenary session, expressed deep grief over the current tanker explosion at Essa Village in Katcha Native Authorities Space, which claimed greater than 30 lives and left over 40 others injured.
He stated the inferno additionally destroyed automobiles, livestock, and perishable items valued at tens of millions of naira.
He defined that the tragedy occurred alongside the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko Highway, a serious federal freeway linking Niger State to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and different elements of the nation. The street, he stated, serves as a crucial hall for the transportation of petroleum merchandise, agricultural commodities, and different items.
The lawmaker lamented that the catastrophe in Essa Village was considered one of many recurring explosions and accidents on the route in current months, resulting in persistent lack of lives and livelihoods and eroding public confidence within the security of the street.
He expressed concern that the street had remained in deplorable situation for many years regardless of successive administrations awarding a number of contracts for its rehabilitation, none of which had been totally executed or delivered.
Abdullahi famous that the mission was beforehand captured underneath the Highway Infrastructure Tax Credit score Scheme, a Public-Non-public Partnership (PPP) mannequin designed to leverage company tax obligations for crucial infrastructure supply.
He, nonetheless, regretted that the Federal Authorities’s current cancellation of the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm Restricted (NNPCL)’s intervention on roads had thrown a number of ongoing or proposed tasks, together with the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko Highway, into uncertainty and execution limbo.
“The continued neglect of this important freeway has turned it right into a loss of life lure for motorists, tanker drivers, and merchants, whereas inflicting frequent gridlocks, destruction of products, and extreme hardship for commuters and residents,” he stated.
Adopting the movement, the Home urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Federal Roads Upkeep Company (FERMA) to instantly mobilise assets and contractors to start full rehabilitation, enlargement, and completion of the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko Highway, particularly the sections between Bida and Agaie.
It additionally mandated the Federal Highway Security Corps (FRSC) and related companies to accentuate enforcement of security requirements for tanker and heavy-duty operations to make sure compliance with roadworthiness, loading procedures, and emergency response protocols.
The lawmakers additional referred to as on the Nationwide Emergency Administration Company (NEMA) to supply aid supplies and medical help to the victims and households affected by the Essa Village tanker explosion.
The Home directed its Committees on Works, FERMA, FRSC, and Finance to conduct a complete evaluation of the street and overview the standing of its earlier contractual preparations and to report again inside two weeks for additional legislative motion.
