340
By Tracy Moses
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action to end the recurring tanker explosions, fatal accidents, and persistent gridlock along the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko Road in Niger State.
The resolution followed the adoption of an urgent motion of national importance moved by Rt. Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi (SMA), member representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency, during plenary on Wednesday. The motion was titled “Urgent Need for Intervention on the Recurrent Tanker Explosions, Fatal Accidents, and Gridlock along the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko Road in Niger State.”
Presenting the motion, Abdullahi expressed deep grief over the recent tanker explosion at Essa Village in Katcha Local Government Area, which claimed more than 30 lives and left over 40 others injured. The incident also destroyed vehicles, livestock, and goods worth millions of naira.
He lamented that the tragic incident was only one among several recurring accidents along the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko corridor, a major federal highway linking Niger State to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other parts of the country. The route, he noted, remains a vital artery for the transportation of petroleum products, agricultural produce, and other essential goods.
Abdullahi decried the deplorable condition of the road, which, according to him, has remained unattended despite multiple contracts awarded by successive administrations. He recalled that the project was previously captured under the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model designed to leverage corporate tax obligations for critical infrastructure delivery.
The lawmaker, however, expressed concern that the Federal Government’s recent cancellation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) road intervention programme had thrown many ongoing and proposed projects, including the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko Road, into uncertainty and execution limbo.
“The continued neglect of this vital highway has turned it into a death trap for motorists and tanker drivers, causing frequent gridlocks, destruction of goods, and untold hardship for commuters and residents,” Abdullahi said, adding that immediate intervention was necessary to prevent further loss of lives and economic disruptions.
Recognizing the road’s strategic importance to Niger State and the national economy, the House called for swift and coordinated federal action to rehabilitate the highway and restore safety along the corridor.
The House consequently urged the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to urgently mobilize contractors to commence full rehabilitation, expansion, and completion of the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko Road, especially the stretch between Bida and Agaie.
Lawmakers also directed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies to intensify enforcement of safety standards for tanker and heavy-duty vehicles to minimize the risk of further tragedies.
Additionally, the House appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials and medical support to the victims and families affected by the Essa Village explosion.
It further mandated the Committees on Works, FERMA, FRSC, and Finance to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the road and review previous contractual arrangements, with a directive to report back within two weeks for further legislative action.
Abdullahi emphasized that an urgent intervention on the Bida–Agaie–Lapai–Lambata–Diko Road would not only save lives but also safeguard investments, ease the movement of goods, and reaffirm the government’s commitment to road safety and infrastructural development across the country.