Niger State Governor, has expressed displeasure over the persistent damage done to major roads in Niger state in particular and Nigeria in general, by heavy duty and articulated vehicles , adding that the State Government would enact a law that will regulate weight of trucks plying roads in the state.
Governor Sani-Bello disclosed this in Minna after inspecting the deplorable state of the federal highway along Minna/Suleja Road.
He said the frequency at which repaired roads are damaged was due to the activities of overloaded vehicles plying the roads.
The Governor noted that despite the economic downturn in the country, the state had committed huge resources in rehabilitating roads in the state but expressed dismay that all efforts have failed to deliver the desired result as the roads are damaged by overloaded heavy duty trucks no sooner the roads are fixed.
Aside from the proposed legislation, the governor said the state would soon reintroduce weighbridge in order to ensure that operators of heavy duty and articulated trucks comply with the carrying capacity of our roads.
“We cannot continue to use public fund to repair roads. We have tried our best as a government to see to it that our roads are in good condition for the benefit of our people but the more we repair the road, the more over loaded tankers and heavy duty trucks plying on them are causing a lot of damage to our roads.
“Our roads are designed to carry 30 tonnes or 33,000 liters but it is very unfortunate that lawlessness is increasing day by day and you see vehicles with overload haulage plying the road indiscriminately.
“We are coming up with strong laws that will prohibit trucks carrying overload on our highways. We will also introduce weighbridge in the state to enable us have weight control of trucks that ply the roads in the state”.
Gov. Sani Bello then challenged law enforcement agencies on the need to enforce various highway codes and laws, by ensuring that overloaded vehicles are not permitted to ply on our roads unpunished, stressing that the state government can only repair the roads but cannot enforce the Law.
The Governor was accompanied by the Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Marafa, Secretary to State Government, SSG, Alhaji Isa Ladan, Head of Service, Alhaji Yabagi Sule, Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Abudulmalik Cheche, Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe, Managing Director, Niger State Road Maitanence Agency, NIGROMA, Commissioner of Police , Mr Austen, Agbonlahor, Specia Adviser, Permanent Secretary Works, Arch Umar Bawa Special Adviser, Special Duties, Alhaji Umar Alkali,Director, Fire Service, Alhaji Babakudu Muhammed, Director ,Vehicle Inspection Office, V.I.O as well other heads of security agencies in the state.