Residents and travelers in Kogi State are facing severe challenges as the rehabilitation of the Anyigba-Dekina-Shintaku road continues to be delayed. Originally constructed in the 1960s, this vital road has fallen into disrepair, causing hardship for commuters and becoming a hotspot for criminal activities due to its bad condition.
Back in April 2017, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, announced plans to fix the road in honor of the late Lt. Col. Muhammed Ali, a local hero who lost his life while fighting insurgents. Initially, the project showed promise, with 21 earth-moving machines brought to the site. However, just weeks later, only two machines remained, leaving residents wondering why the work had suddenly stalled.
The road, crucial for linking communities, was later handed over to a Kano-based company for completion, but questions about the company’s credibility surfaced. Residents voiced their concerns, noting that the company lacked a proper office and had done little to improve the road. Former chairman of Bassa Local Government, Hon. Shuaib Imam, shared his disappointment, stating that the road has become a nightmare for travelers.
In 2022, the Federal Government re-awarded the road project to TEC Engineering Company. The contract was valued at 65.2 billion naira, with an expected completion by February 2024. However, six months past the deadline, little progress has been made. Although the company moved its equipment to the site early on, work soon stopped again, leaving the project in limbo.
The poor state of the road is affecting everyone, from commercial drivers to villagers. For example, the Shabba of Bassa, Nge Kingdom, HRM Alh. Yahaya Lerama, explained that the costs of crossing the river from Ganaja to Shintaku have skyrocketed due to the road’s deterioration. Where crossing with a vehicle used to cost N3000, it now costs N8000.
Motorcyclists, like Baba Dauda, also face daily challenges on the road, with some areas becoming so bad that only one bike can pass at a time. The trip, which should take ten minutes, now stretches over an hour, especially during the rainy season, leading to frequent bike and vehicle breakdowns.
The Federal Controller of Works in Kogi State, Engr. Olayinka Onogoye, acknowledged the delays but cited several reasons, including the kidnapping of an expatriate working on the project, the rainy season, and challenges with design approvals. He urged residents to be patient, promising that the contractor would return to the site once the rainy season ends.
Despite these reassurances, the lack of visible progress has left locals frustrated. Many are calling on the government to either speed up the work or revoke the contract if TEC Engineering continues to delay. Until then, road users will continue to face daily struggles on the dangerous and damaged road.
Will the government finally deliver on its promises, or will the road project remain stuck in the mud? Only time will tell.
