Senate tells FG to urgently rehabilitate Shintaku-Anyigba road

The upper chamber’s resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Jibrin Isah, representing Kogi East Senatorial district.

Isah, in his lead motion, lamented the neglect of Shintaku-Anyigba road for many years despite its economic and agricultural benefits to the people, saying it takes only 55 minutes to move agricultural products from Anyigba to Lokoja.

According to him, the deplorable condition of the road has badly affected water transportation activities in the River Niger, particularly around the confluence.

He said: “The Senate notes that the Shintaku-Anyigba road is boosted by the Lokoja-Shintaku waterway, which takes about 20 minutes by ferry from Lokoja to Shintaku and about 40 minutes from Shintaku-Anyigba, making a total of about 55 minutes from Lokoja to Anyigba in Kogi East Senatorial district.

“Informed that the population of citizens along Shintaku-Anyigba road route is about 1,200,000 with major commercial activities in major towns along the route which provide employment opportunities for many with the attendant reduction of crime rate in the town.

The lawmaker further identified the deplorable condition of the road as catalyst for crimes, saying, no day passes without reports of armed robbery and kidnapping on the route.

“Concerned that the deplorable condition of the road now provides a safe haven for criminals, as cases of armed robbery and kidnapping are being reported along the route on almost daily basis.

“Convinced that there is an urgent need for the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to embark on immediate maintenance of the Shintaku-Anyigba road to boost economic activities, facilitate transportation of farm produce and reduce crimes in the axis.”

After the motion was seconded by Senator Sadiq Umar Mohammed, Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan referred it to the Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency to report back in three weeks’ time.