Niger Govt reopens state roads

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state has directed relevant agencies in the State to open up the closed roads to articulated vehicles that are carrying not more than 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and 35,000 tonnes of dry cargo.
The Governor gave the directive when he briefed journalists shortly a meeting Chaired by the Chief of Staff to President Mohammadu Buhari, Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services, the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Coorperation and the Minister of Works and Housing all in attendance.
According to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary CPS, Mary Noel Berje, the Governor said that the meeting was mainly to discuss issues arising from the closure of all Niger State owned roads to articulated vehicles, where he explained the condition of roads in the State to them.
They unanimously acknowledge that the deplorable roads in the State was mostly due to the movement of articulated vehicles carrying overloads of fuel and dry cargos which has resulted to the destruction of the roads and brought hardship on other road users.
Governor Bello however said the opening of the roads is to allow for free movement of goods and services to ease the hardship that would be caused by the closure to heavy trucks, pointing out that it is a sacrifice that has to be made at this dire period for the interest of Northern region in particular and the country at large.
Under the new arrangement, according to Governor Sani-Bello, “No articulated vehicle carrying Petroleum products of more than 45,000 litres of fuel and 35 tonnes of dry cargo will be allowed into the State”.