Gov. Sani Bello Canvasses for Haulage Regulatory Policy

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello on Monday called for a regulatory policy that will control the haulage weight permissible for articulated and heavy duty trucks on our highways.
He made this call while playing host to the acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo who was on an assessment visit to the site of the collapsed bridge at Tatabu, in Mokwa local government area of the state.

The governor who traced the deplorable state of highways across the country on the unwholesome practice by motorists plying our roads with overloaded articulated and heavy duty trucks, without consideration of the carrying capacity of such roads.

Though he admitted that the collapsed Tatabu bridge was as a result of heavy downpour, he noted that the deplorable state of most highways across the country could be traced to abuse of the road by persistent movement of overloaded trucks.

"The weight of trucks on our roads and bridges have been a thing of concern to me. Roads that were designed and constructed to accommodate vehicles carrying load of between 30-33 tonnes now have trucks conveying haulage of 60-70 tonnes, while tankers carry 65,000 to 90,000 liters of Petroleum products.

"The volume and frequency of movement of these trucks over time have increased, partly because our railway lines are not working. These overloaded trucks have brought undue pressure on our roads and bridges.
"By not controling the weight of trucks plying our roads, we stand the risk of loosing more roads and bridges and making our roads to be death traps, " the governor stated.

He however commended federal government's prompt attention to the reconstruction of the collapsed Tatabu bridge and expressed optimism that the contractor would be able to complete the project on time. 

Meanwhile, the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo reaffirmed the importance of the Jebba-Mokwa road to the country and assured motorists of government's resolve to build a temporary bridge within two weeks to relief the hardship suffered due to the collapsed bridge.
He added that a new dual carriage bridge would be completed within the next five months to replace the collapsed one.

"This is an important route and we can assure you that the temporary road would be done as fast as possible. We have gotten assurances from the contractor handling the road. It will be passable in a forthnight and by then, I believe that there will be better movement of goods and vehicles," the acting President assured.

He then appealed to the motorists and commuters to exercise patience and cooperate with the contractor to ensure quick completion of the project.

Also, the chairman Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar commended Federal government's efforts at reconstructing the damaged bridge and appealed to Federal government to give similar attention to other Federal roads in the state.