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On Thursday last week during plenary in Senate, it was lamentations galore by Senators on deplorable federal roads across the country with resolution for urgent rehabilitation by the Federal Government. TAIYE ODEWALE reports
Federal roads
Out of the estimated 195,000 kilometres of roads network across Nigeria, 36,000 kilometres belong to the Federal Government while the balance of about 160,000 kilometers belong to the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT, Abuja) and the 774 local government councils.
The 36,000 kilometers of roads belonging to the federal government otherwise known as Trunk A roads, are however the major roads connecting each of the 36 states and the federal capital territory together as well as linking Nigeria to the various countries bordering it on land.
Senator Goje’s motion
On account of deplorability of most of the inter – states highways and perceived exclusion of those in the North East geo – political zone from the N4.2trillion Super Highway Projects proposed for the 2025 fiscal year by the federal government, the Chairman of North – East caucus in the National Assembly, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), moved a motion to draw the attention of the Senate to it and seek the inclusion of North East roads in the Super Highway Projects.
Goje’s motion entitled: “Federal Government’s Approval of N4.2trillion Naira for the construction of Lagos – Calabar Coastal Road and other major Road Projects Nationwide”, reads: “The Senate recalls that at the Federal Executive Council meeting of Monday, 3rd February, 2025, the Federal Government approved the sum of N4.2 Trillion Naira for the construction of Lagos – Calabar road and other major highways and bridges across the country:
“Notes that these massive road infrastructure projects were conceived to deliberately address the deplorable state of federal road networks nationwide and reconstruction/rehabilitation of some, in line with the policy thrust of the current administration of His Excellency, Senator Ahmad Bola Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to revamp the road infrastructure challenges in order to boost socio-economic development of this country;
“Commends Mr. President for this bold initiative as it will go along way to improve effective transport system as well as address the challenges of insecurity, as criminal elements had taken advantage of the deplorable nature of highway road networks to perpetrate their nefarious and dastardly acts.
“Notes from the breakdown of the highway projects, as listed in THIS DAY Newspaper of Tuesday, 4th February, 2025 and DAILY TRUST of Wednesday, 5th February, 2025, respectively as follows: Lagos – Calabar Highway; Delta State Access Road; Anambra State Access Road; Lagos – Ibadan Express Way; Auchi – Edo Section; Benin Airport Area Section; Third Mainland Bridge; Ado Ekiti – Igede Road Project; Onitsha Owerri Express Way; Abia & Enugu States Road Projects; Udukpani Junction – Apeti Central Section of Calabar – Ikom – Ogoja Road; Abeokuta – Ajibo Road – Iyanan Mosa Road in Ogun State; Adulu – Ajibu Road in Anambra State; Umuahia – Ikuano – Ikot-Ekpene Road; Umuahia – Umudike; Ijebu – Igbotita in Ogun State; Lokoja – Benin Road; Musasa – Jos Route; Agaya Kachia – Baro Road in Niger State; Yola – Fufore – Gurin Road in Adamawa State; and Karim Lamido Road in Taraba State.
“However, it is imperative to note that in this laudable project, the North – East has only two projects, that is, Yola – Fufore – Gurin Road in Adamawa State (N11.81 Billion); and Lamido Road in Taraba State (N7.68 Billion), out of the approved sum of N4.2 Trillion.
‘Also notes that apart from these two road projects in the North – East, there are other very important road networks, which are in bad conditions, such as: the Bauchi – Gombe road; Biu – Gombe road; Potiskum – Gombe road; Darazo – Gombe road; Numan – Jalingo road; Yola – Mubi road; Yola – Michika – Madagali – Gwoza – Bama road, Ngorore – Mayo Belwa – Zing – Jalingo; Mayo Belwa – Jada – Ganye; Biu – Gombi – Maranraba; Biu – Damboa – Maiduguri; and Biu – Damaturu, among others, which desperately require serious reconstruction and rehabilitation.
“Further notes that the North – East is the only Zone that is not connected to the SUPER HIGHWAY PROJECT, embarked upon by this administration.
“Observes that the laudable intention behind the conception of these projects is to ensure connectivity by improving road safety with the aim of harnessing the viability of resources that abound across the length and breadth of this country, with a view to stimulating economic growth and development.
“Accordingly resolves to: (i.) Commend the Federal Government for embarking on these ambitious and laudable projects that would go a long way to guarantee socio-economic and political wellbeing of the citizenry of this country.
“Urge the federal government to, as a matter of necessity, approve the rehabilitation of the listed deplorable roads in the North – East by including them in the Super Highway Projects and (iii), also urge the Federal Government to extend the RENEWED HOPE SUPER HIGHWAY ROAD PROJECT to the North – East, so as to ensure full inclusion of the Zone into the mainstream economic activities of the country.
Senators’ lamentation and amendment on Goje’s prayer 2
In nationalising the issue, the Senate amended prayer two of the motion from urging the federal government to, as a matter of necessity, approve the rehabilitation of the listed deplorable roads in the North – East to urging the Federal Government to as a matter of necessity, approve the rehabilitation of all deplorable roads across the Country.
Amendment of the prayer, followed contributions made by many senators during debate on the motion that the issue of deplorable roads is not limited to a section of the country but actually spread across the country.
Specifically, Senator Sani Musa (Niger East) in his contribution said though he supported the motion because of its importance but problem of bad roads is nationwide and not limited to a section of the country.
According to him, the Minna – Suleja Road which is 98 kilometres has taken 14 years for rehabilitation which is yet to be completed, not to talk of Minna – Tegina – Kotangora road which are in very bad shape and more less death traps for road users”.
“Road deplorability across the country is a national problem, requiring summoning the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi before the Senate for explanations on whatever strategic plans being made to mitigate the bad situation”, he stressed.
Similarly in his own contribution, Senator Titus Zam Tertenger (Benue North West), said as bad as the roads listed by Senator Goje in the North East, so are many between Benue and neighbouring state, particularly the one from Markudi to Naka which is almost impassable now, not talk of many other ones.
The lamentation galore among Senators on deplorable condition of roads across the country ontinued with contributions made by Senators Olalere Oyewumi (Osun West), Idiat Oluranti Adebule (Lagos West), Garba Madoki (Kebbi South), Jibrin Isah (Kogi East), etc.
Specifically, Senator Oyewumi who is the Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate in his contribution, aligned with submissions made by Senator Goje but said deplorable roads are not restricted to North East alone but spread across the six geo – political zones.
“In the South West for example, the Ibadan, Ikire, Ife, Ilesha, Akure, Owo road connecting about five states, is there begging for attention on yearly basis.
“These are projects awarded more than eight years ago with just 12% implementation. I think the Minister of Works as earlier suggested, should be invited to face the Senate for required explanations”, he said.
Also, Senator Oluranti Adebule in her contribution, said Lagos – Badagry, Lagos – Abeokuta road require urgent attention from the government like the other deplorable ones across the country.
“All the roads across Nigeria require attention as stated in a compendium handed over to the Minister of Works last year by an Ad – hoc of committee of this Senate”, she said.
Senator Adeola ‘s clarification on the N4.2trillion Coaster Road Projects.
Apparently as Chairman , Senate Committee on Appropriations , Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Ogun West), in his contribution to the debate, clarified that the N4.2trillion quoted by Senator Danjuma Goje as allocation made for construction or rehabilitation of super highway across the country from which according to Senator Goje, only N19billion worth of road projects was given to North East, is not correct.
Adeola in his clarification said N4.2trillion was strictly for construction of Lagos – Calabar and Badagry – Sokoto coastal road, while N500billion, was set aside for rehabilitation of deplorable roads across the country.
“For the existing road projects across the country, Mr President has set aside N500billon for continued rehabilitation work without exclusion of any zone”, he said.
Akpabio’s call for Roadmap
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio in his closing remarks after adoption of resolutions on the motion, one of which was the commendation given President Bola Tinubu on the N4.2trillion coaster road projects, posited that until Nigeria has a serious road map for constant rehabilitation and maintenance of roads across the country, the issue of road deplorability in Nigeria will remain.
“If previous administrations in the country had taken bold steps being taken by the Tinubu administration now, the problem wouldn’t have been gargantuan as they are now, as far as deplorable roads in Nigeria are concerned”, he stressed.
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