The Federal Government on Monday directed Julius Berger and two other construction companies to free the submerged Lokoja-Abuja Road from flooding within three days.
The Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, gave the directive in Lokoja when he paid a courtesy call on Gov. Idris Wada.
Onolememen described the flood as a disaster that deeply touched President Goodluck Jonathan because it affected key national structures and threatened the link between the northern and southern parts of the country.
"We are here on the behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan; he has been deeply touched by the sufferings of Nigerians affected by the flood; it is a national emergency.
"It has touched on key national infrastructure because the Abuja-Lokoja highway accounts for 70 per cent of traffic between the north and south'', Onolememen said.
He said he also brought the managing directors of the three construction companies; Julius Berger, RCC and Dantata and Sawoe and their teams to assess the impact and address the situation.
According to him, the level of flood currently devastating the state has not been witnessed in the past 100 years.
"We have additional two-metre rise in water level; we have conducted air reconnaissance and we are sure to redress the logjam within the next few days.''
In her remark, Hajia Hadiza Mailafia, the Minister of Environment, who accompanied Onolememen, said the flooding was unfortunate and urged the people to always obey simple environmental laws.
"Our situation is worsened because we do not obey environment rules, this is traumatising but our coming will bring succour,'' she said. NAN
Vanguard Nigeria
They better do so in time, the roads have turned to a mini river.
good step from the federal government.berger is capable of that
Those roads are not looking good at all so it would be good they start quickly.