Viral • 15h ago
Nasarawa communities groan as government abandons N865m road project
**Abandoned Road Project Leaves Nasarawa Communities in Despair**
In Nasarawa State, the once-anticipated Lafia-Agyaragun-Tofa road project is now nothing but a shadow of its former self. The six-kilometre road, initially awarded in 2017 with a contract sum of ₦865 million, has been left to decay, causing untold hardships for residents of the affected communities.
Locals in the Lafia Local Government Area have been struggling to access essential services such as markets, schools, and healthcare due to the deplorable state of the road. The situation worsens during the rainy season when the road becomes impassable, leading to accidents, armed robberies, and even kidnappings.
One resident, Iliya Musa, has taken matters into his own hands by filling potholes with bags of sand to make the road passable. He is assisted by his seven-year-old son, and commuters sometimes offer him tokens for his efforts. However, Mr Musa's actions are a testament to the government's failure to deliver on its promises.
The story of this abandoned road project is one of mismanagement and financial discrepancies. Initially allocated ₦200 million in 2016, the project's budget was increased to ₦320 million in 2017. However, a closer look at the contract sum and payment records reveals inconsistencies. The contract was officially awarded to Certified Engineering Ltd in 2018 for ₦865.7 million, but the official arrears portal still lists the full contract sum.
The last tranche of ₦155 million was paid to the contractor in 2020, completing the total cost of ₦865 million. Yet, the government appears to have abandoned the project, leaving communities to suffer the consequences.
As the people of Nasarawa State continue to bear the brunt of this abandoned road project, it is clear that more needs to be done to address this issue. The government must take responsibility for its actions and provide a solution to this pressing problem. Until then, residents will continue to suffer, and the reputation of the state government will continue to suffer as well.