The Senate on Thursday urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of necessity, approve the rehabilitation of the federal highways in deplorable conditions in all states across the country.
It also urged the Federal Government to extend the Renewed Hope Superhighway road project to the North-East to ensure full inclusion of the zone into the mainstream economic activities of the country.
The lawmakers however commended the Federal Government for embarking on road construction that would go a long way to guarantee the socio-economic and political well-being of the citizenry of this country.
The resolutions were sequel to a motion, Federal Government’s approval of N4.2 trillion for the construction of Lagos- Calabar Coastal road and other major road projects nationwide sponsored by former Gombe state governor and Senator representing, Danjuma Goje.
Senator Goje in his motion specifically claimed that the approved sum of N4.2 Trillion Naira for the construction of Lagos – Calabar road and other major highways at its Federal Executive Council meeting held on Monday, 3rd February 2025 was skewed against the North-East.
The lawmaker noted that out of the total sum approved, “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 naira.”
His motion read in part: “The Senate: Recalls that at the Federal Executive Council meeting of Monday, 3 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, 4 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 Naira;
“Also notes that apart from these two road projects in the North – East, there are other very important road networks, which are in bad condition, 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.”
Senator Goje’s claim that the North-East zone has been sidelined by the Federal Government was however faulted by his colleagues.
Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi said public funds were not adequate to take care of all federal highways. He further disproved the submission that the coastal highways which got the lion’s share of the N4.2 Trillion Naira did not deserve the priority it had been accorded.
“It will look as it North-East was unfairly treated and intentionally but that wasn’t the situation. In the 8th Senate, a lot of construction was done on the North East roads. Funds were not available for the construction of roads. We need to take a holistic approach to the management of our roads. We need to bring toll fees, back to our roads, a lot of people are using our roads without paying. That is not what is l happening in other parts of the world.
“There’s a need to find a way to bring more funds for construction of our roads.
Senator representing Lagos West, Idiat Oluranti Adebule, spoke in the same vein.
She equally cited certain federal highways crying for attention in the South-West.
She said: “The most important is that all our roads need attention. It is not only about the North East, it is about Nigeria. We will all continue to raise issues that are peculiar to our states.
“I align myself with the suggestion that the Minister of Works should be invited. It will afford us the opportunity to ask the Minister what the federal government is doing to our roads. Lagos Badagry has started since 2023 but up till now it hasn’t been completed, also the Lagos Abeokuta road. “
Senator representing Kogi East, Jibrin Isah called on the Federal Government to list all federal highways in a deplorable state and give a 5-year timeline to fix them.
Senator representing Ogun West and incidentally, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola said the narrative that the North-East zone has been abandoned was not true. He noted that the challenge was inadequate capital releases.
He said: “It isn’t about North-East alone. The capital releases are not adequate. What the motion is asking for, we can only invite the Accountant General to shed light on a delay of capital releases.”
He was however countered by the sponsor of the motion who declared that there was enough money to fix all roads across the zones.
In his concluding remarks, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said the road contracts awarded were not done on the basis of regions or zones.
He said:” “The motion is good and what the motion is saying is the rehabilitation of roads. I believe strongly that if previous administrations had done serious construction, we wouldn’t have this deplorable state of our roads.
“Until we have a serious road map and serious maintenance in this country. We should have a road map and how to maintain our roads. We will continue to have these issues unless we sit down, even if we declare the roads as a state of emergency, we need to have a road map.
“These two roads (Lagos- Calabar and Lagos- Sokoto) are the priority of this administration. The leftover of N500bn was for other roads in the 36 states. It isn’t done on the basis of region or zone. So, the explanations suffice.“
Nigerian Tribune
