Lawmakers at the House of Representatives
House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to prioritise the rehabilitation, expansion, and completion of the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko Road in Niger State.
The resolution followed a motion raised by Rep. Saidu Abdulahi (APC–Niger) during Wednesday’s plenary in Abuja, after a tragic tanker explosion at Essa Village in Katcha Local Government Area claimed about 30 lives and injured at least 40 others.
Abdulahi lamented that the inferno also destroyed vehicles, livestock, and perishable goods worth millions of naira.
He noted that the incident occurred along the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko federal highway, a key route linking Niger State with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other regions.
According to him, the road is vital for transporting petroleum products, farm produce, and other goods across the country.
However, he described the Essa Village disaster as one of several tragic tanker explosions and fatal crashes that have repeatedly occurred along the corridor.
“These explosions have resulted in countless deaths, loss of livelihoods, and growing public distrust in the safety of the route,” he said.
The lawmaker decried the highway’s deplorable state, pointing out that despite multiple contracts awarded by successive administrations, the project remains unfinished.
He reminded the House that the road’s reconstruction once fell under the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme—a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement aimed at leveraging corporate tax obligations to fund key infrastructure.
“Despite the promise of the Tax Credit Scheme to fast-track infrastructure delivery, the Federal Government’s recent cancellation of NNPC’s intervention on roads has thrown several projects, including the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko Road, into uncertainty,” Abdulahi added.
He warned that the ongoing neglect of the road has led to constant traffic congestion, loss of goods and man-hours, and severe hardship for residents and motorists. “It has practically become a death trap for tanker drivers, traders, and commuters,” he said.
Abdulahi emphasised that the road is not only critical to Niger State’s economy but also to the national supply chain, linking agricultural hubs to urban markets and the FCT.
He therefore urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to mobilise resources and contractors to immediately begin full-scale rehabilitation, expansion, and completion of the road.
The House also called on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies to enforce strict compliance with safety standards for tanker and heavy-duty operators, particularly regarding vehicle roadworthiness, loading procedures, and emergency responses.
In addition, lawmakers appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials and medical aid to victims and families affected by the Essa Village explosion.
Ruling on the motion, Deputy Speaker Rep. Benjamin Kalu directed the House Committees on Works, FERMA, FRSC, and Finance to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the road and review all previous contractual agreements. The committees are to report back within two weeks for further legislative action.
(NAN)
