Truck drivers blocked some federal highways in Niger State to protest the deplorable state of the Bida-Lambata Expressway, causing heavy gridlock and risks to commuters.

The drivers were protesting that the government should expedite action to complete the ongoing construction to ease their difficulties in using the roads.

The blockade has therefore elicited an appeal from the federal government, urging for understanding from the articulated vehicle drivers.

Babangida Hussaini, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, on Saturday, in Abuja told the protesters that the federal government was committed to completing the ongoing construction work on Bida-Lambata road.

Mr Hussaini’s appeal was contained in a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson Boade Akinola on Saturday.

“I am appealing to the truck drivers for understanding of the efforts of the Federal government in fixing this road. This Bida-Lambata road is among the many other ongoing projects across the nation which the government prioritised to deliver,” Mr Hussaini said.

Hussaini also noted that the rehabilitation work has not reached the  sections that collapsed  but the contractor has been directed to do palliative work on all such sections while the construction progress as scheduled.

He  lamented that the contractor has been denied access to the road due to blockade by the tanker drivers.

He said that work was going on with the contractors on site to ensure not only timely completion but to deliver a qualitative road that would stand the test of time.

(NAN)