Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has ordered immediate clampdown on miners and operators of heavy-duty trucks evading tax and using roads not designated for their operations, promising
stiffer sanctions as part of efforts to protect public infrastructure across the state.
The Governor gave the directive during an inspection of the ongoing rehabilitation of the Zone 8–Zango Road in Lokoja, which suffered extensive damage barely two years after its construction due to the activities of heavy-duty trucks for which the road was not designated.
Governor Ododo said investigations revealed that some mining companies had been bypassing designated toll gates and diverting their trucks to roads not designed to accommodate heavy vehicular traffic, resulting in the rapid deterioration of the road.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the administration to safeguarding public infrastructure, assuring residents that decisive measures would be taken to prevent further damage on the road.
The Governor directed the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) to strengthen enforcement through a dedicated task force to monitor activities of mining companies and ensure compliance with approved routes and filing of tax returns.
He stressed that investment by the government in road construction must not be undermined by recklessness among operators of heavy-duty trucks.
Governor Ododo announced that a special enforcement task force would be established to ensure that only authorized vehicles use designated routes, while violators would be sanctioned in accordance with the law.
Speaking during the inspection, the Project Manager of China Civil Engineering Construction Company, Sun Yi Shi assured the Governor that adequate measures had been put in place to curb further destruction of the road by unauthorized heavy duty vehicles.
He added that the road is currently undergoing rehabilitation and expressed confidence that the project would be protected from future damage.
In a related development Governor Ododo inspected ongoing construction of the Treasury House in Lokoja as part efforts to ensure quality delivery of public infrastructure.
The Governor said the inspection was to assess the quality of work and the level of progress made on the project.
He reiterated his administration’s resolve to deliver durable and standard infrastructure that will serve the people effectively, stressing that contractors handling government projects must adhere to approved specifications and completion timelines.
