Cove/Isma’il Adamu, Katsina
Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina has disclosed that the execution of some road projects in the state has been stalled by the activities of armed bandits.
Aminu Masari stated this while inspecting some ongoing road projects alongside officials from the state Ministry of Works.
He listed the roads affected to include Gurbin Baure to Shinfida to Batsari for which the contract had been awarded but the contractor could not mobilize to site as the area was part of the bandits-infested Rugu Forest, and the road from Birchi to Lambo to Wurma, and from Kurfi to Batsari, the contract documents were ready but could not be awarded because of insecurity in the area.
“Officials have also surveyed and designed the proposed road from Danmusa to Maidabino to Tsamiyar Jino to Kankara, the contract could not be awarded as the axis is a bandits’ stronghold.
“Also affected is the road project from Kankara to Dansabau on the Katsina Zamfara state border and the road from Sabuwa to Dandume which were suspended due to insecurity” he lamented.
The Governor explained that the state government had decided to construct the roads given their economic value as they would connect agrarian communities to markets and ease movement along local trade routes.
He said efforts were on by security agencies to curb the menace of armed banditry in the state.