Following the ban of commercial motorcycles in Minna, the Niger State Capital, due to insecurity, the State Ministry of Transportation is standing as guarantor to purchase 400 tricycles to the operators at the cost of N464.1m to ease the movement of people.
Commissioner for Transportation, Hajiya Ramatu Mohammed Yar’adua, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Ibrahim Garba Musa disclosed this during post State Executive press briefing at the Government House, Minna.
Hajiya Ramatu said 400 tricycles (200 each of BAJAJ and TVS) are to complement the existing ones that were already in use, saying that they will be assigned to designated routes.
She said that the purchase of the tricycle became necessary to cushion the effect of hardship caused on commuters by the ban of the commercial motorcycle operation.
The commissioner added that the ministry had contacted the union of the tricycle operators on the modalities of securing the facility for the purchase of the tricycles.
She said the TVS model will cost N1.2m, while that of BAJAJ is to be purchased at N1.129m, added that an initial commitment deposit of N65, 000 is to be made by the beneficiaries for the purpose of registration and licensing of the tricycles and that a monthly repayment of N60, 000 is expected from the operators for 18 months.
The commissioner said, that the association of the tricycle has welcomed the development and eagerly waiting for the delivery of the tricycles.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Education, Hajiya Hannatu Jibrin Salihu announced the commencement of the second phase of the “Whole School Development Approach” by the state government, with the selection of Ahmadu Bahago Secondary School (ABSS), Minna, as the starting point.
Hajiya Hannatu said, the total overhaul and renovation of the school will gulp over N427.6m and is to be completed in 18 months from the time of commencement.
She said the ministry was prioritizing schools to be selected for the intervention.
According to her, out of 56 boarding schools in the state, 10 have been shut down in high-risk security threatened areas and the students have been taken to alternative schools to continue their studies and for the final year students to write their examinations.
She said even with the paucity of funds, a frantic effort was been made by the state government to secure most of the schools through the construction of perimeter fences.
In another development, the Niger State government has approved the completion of female and male hostels at the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Kontagora, to add to existing structures and to allow for a conducive learning environment for the students.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education Prof. Abubakar Baba Aliyu said it was part of the efforts of the government to improve the education and health sectors of the state.
He said the construction of the hostels will gulp N199Million including the additional contract variation of N24Million which was necessitated by the stoppage of work during the COVID-19 outbreak and the consequent rise in prices of building materials.
