The Federal Government has urged contractors handling the Abuja–Lokoja road projects to intensify work and meet agreed deadlines, following slow progress recorded on several sections of the critical highway.
During an inspection of the projects, it was observed that the reconstruction of the Kotonkarfe–Abaji, Abuja-bound section being handled by Trucrete Solutions Nigeria Ltd, covering about 47 kilometres, had recorded only 10.21 per cent completion.
The rehabilitation of the Abuja–Lokoja Section 4A by Sailthrough Construction Ltd stood at 22.40 per cent completion, while the dualisation of the Lokoja–Benin Road, Section I, Phases I and II (Obajana Junction–Okene Road), handled by CGC Nigeria Ltd, recorded 38.04 per cent completion.
In contrast, the repair of the Lokoja–Ganaja Road, constructed with concrete pavement by Gitto Costruzioni General Nigeria Ltd and awarded in October 2023 for a six-month duration, had reached 99.73 per cent completion.
Speaking during the inspection, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central Region), Dr Abiodun Essiet, said the exercise was aimed at assessing the pace of work and engaging host communities. She described the Abuja–Lokoja Road as a vital corridor linking the North and the South, noting that despite contractors being on site, progress remained below expectations.
Essiet expressed dissatisfaction with the level of work done, stressing that only a few months remained to the project deadline. She called on contractors to deploy more equipment and manpower and collaborate effectively to ensure timely completion.
She also urged contractors to improve communication with the public by promptly notifying authorities and the media about road diversions or temporary closures to ease movement for road users.
The presidential aide assured contractors of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to funding the projects, noting that payments would be made through structured arrangements, including support from the Renewed Hope Intervention Fund. She emphasised that funding should not be used as an excuse for delays, as contractors were awarded the projects based on their capacity to deliver.
Essiet commended security and traffic agencies, particularly the Police and the Federal Road Safety Corps, for managing traffic diversions, and disclosed that security concerns previously raised by contractors had been resolved, with the military providing round-the-clock protection for the project sites.
Responding, some contractors attributed the slow pace of work to challenges such as funding delays, insecurity, non-payment of certificates, traffic management issues and site access constraints affecting concrete placement.
The Controller of Works, Patiko Musa, acknowledged delays on the projects but said progress had been made on two sections being handled by different contractors. He added that efforts were underway to accelerate work once extensions and revised schedules were approved, assuring that contractors’ concerns were being addressed.
In a related development, Musa inaugurated a special intervention project to address flood-induced washout embankments at kilometre 27 along the Itobe–Anyingba Road in Kogi State.
The Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, said the project was among 260 emergency federal road interventions approved nationwide by the current administration, adding that all had been completed and opened to traffic.
Community leaders, residents, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (Lokoja Branch) and officials of the Kogi State Ministry of Works commended the Federal Government for the interventions, while calling for sustained funding, improved environmental management and timely completion of ongoing projects.