The Nigerian Senate displayed concern on Monday over the consistent non-completion of road projects by contractors throughout the country. Senator Mpigi Barinada, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, expressed this displeasure during the 2024 budget defense session with the Minister of Works, David Umahi, before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Works.
In a pointed rebuke, Barinada emphasized the Senate’s unwavering commitment to preventing the squandering of government funds and taxpayers’ money. “We frown at a situation where contractors will be mobilized, and on visiting their sites by virtue of oversight, at most of those sites, you won’t find contractors,” he stated.
Highlighting specific examples, Barinada cited instances where contractors had been paid significant sums without delivering the expected results. For instance, the rehabilitation of the Aba-Owerri Road in Abia, which should have been undertaken by a mobilized contractor, stands incomplete despite the disbursement of approximately N76 million. Such inefficiency was further exemplified by the situation surrounding the rehabilitation of the Bende road in Abia—a project that remains stagnant despite a payment of over N445 million to the contractor.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi) echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the substantial financial investment made in the second Niger Bridge, which hinges on the completion of crucial connecting roads. She stressed the importance of a holistic approach to Nigeria’s road network development to ensure comprehensive and efficient connectivity across the nation.
She also drew attention to the perennially under-construction Abuja-Lokoja-Auchi road, which has been a work in progress for over two decades. The recurring budgetary allocations towards this project have not culminated in its completion, resulting in continual loss of lives and prolonged inconvenience for commuters. Akpoti-Uduaghan underscored the critical nature of this road, which connects approximately 20 states, advocating for it to be treated as a matter of priority in budgetary provisions.
Furthermore, as the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized the importance of sourcing a significant portion of road construction materials within Nigeria.
The Senate’s unwavering stance against the lackadaisical approach of contractors in executing road projects underscores the imperative need for accountability and efficiency in public infrastructure development. These concerns voiced by the Senate not only reflect the urgency of addressing the deficiencies in ongoing road projects but also accentuate the significance of prioritizing a comprehensive, interconnected, and locally-sourced approach to infrastructure development for the benefit of all Nigerians.
