News Investigators/ The Federal Government has urged contractors handling the Abuja-Lokoja Road projects to step up performance to meet the deadline.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the reconstruction of the Abuja- bound side of the Kotonkarfe-Abaji section being handled by Messrs Trucrete Solutions Nig. on the Abuja-Lokoja project covering about 47 kilometres has only been 10.21 per cent completed.
On the contrary, the repair of the Lokoja-Ganaja road being constructed with concrete pavement by Gitto Costruzioni General Nig.Ltd., awarded in October 2023, for a period of six months, has been 99.73 per cent completed.
Meanwhile, the rehabilitation of Abuja-Lokoja section 4A by Sailthrough Constrution Ltd has only witnessed 22.40 per cent completion rate.
Also, the dualisation of the of Lokoja-Benin road, section I, phase I and II:Obajana junction-Okene road being handled by CGC Nigeria Ltd. has witnessed only 38.04 per cent completion rate.
Speaking while inspecting the project, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central Region), Abiodun Essiet, said the exercise was aimed at assessing progress rate and engaging the community.
According to Ms Essiet, the road is very special because it links the North to the South.
She said that although contractors were on site, the pace of work remained below expectations.
“During the festive period, we recorded heavy traffic on this axis, which prompted the intervention of the Minister of Works.
“The contractor was asked to open the side of the road that had been completed.
“The progress of work done is not encouraging at all. Just few months left to the deadline, and they have been able to achieve not much. I am not impressed by the level of progress being made.
“That is why we are pleading with the controller and the contractors to make sure that they intensify more efforts because this is a very busy road and a whole lot of people are expecting more from Mr President on this road,” she said.
Ms Essiet called on the contractor to do more in terms of bringing more equipment and in terms of collaborating with other people to help make sure that the project is completed in due time.
She stressed the need for better communication with the public, urging contractors to promptly inform government and the media about road diversions or temporary blockages to ensure smooth travel for road users.
The presidential aide assured the contractors of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to funding the project, stating that payments would be made under a structured arrangement, including support from the Renewed Hope Intervention Fund.
She said, “Funding should not be an excuse for delay. Contractors were awarded these projects based on their demonstrated capacity.
“The President has assured that funds will be made available, but that does not stop contractors from intensifying work and meeting agreed timelines.”
She also called on contractors to deploy additional equipment and manpower to fast-track completion, stressing that the road was being constructed with concrete rather than asphalt, a process that required patience and understanding from host communities.
Commending the efforts of security and traffic agencies, Essiet praised the Police and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for assisting with traffic diversions.
She urged continued coordination among all stakeholders to ensure safe and seamless movement along the corridor.
Addressing concerns previously raised by contractors over insecurity, she revealed that the issue had been resolved, with the military agreeing to provide round-the-clock security following approval from the relevant brigade command.
Responding, some of the contractors handling the Abuja-Lokoja road project attributed the slow pace of work to challenges like funding, insecurity, non-payment of certificates, traffic management, site access among others, as key constraints affecting concrete placement.
The Controller of Works, Patiko Musa, said although progress had been made, delay affected the timeline.
Musa said that work was ongoing on two sections, handled by different contractors, with plans to accelerate activities once extensions and revised schedules were approved.
He said the complaints raised by the contractors were being attended to and assured that their request for extensions and payments would be addressed,
In another development, Musa accompanied by the inspection team, inaugurated a special intervention on the effect of flooding on washout embankment at kilometre 27 along Itobe-Anyingba road in Kogi State.
Explaining the initiative, the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, stated that the project was one of the 260 emergency federal road interventions approved nationwide by the current administration.
Ahmed said the emergency projects were necessitated by the poor condition of critical federal road sections inherited in 2023, stressing that all 260 interventions had been completed and opened to traffic.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Lokoja Branch, community leaders, and residents commended the Federal Government and contractors for the interventions, while urging sustained funding, improved environmental management, and timely completion of all ongoing projects.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Kogi State Ministry of Works, Abdussalam Seguir, commended the Federal Government for the interventions, noting improved traffic flow and reduced travel time for residents.
NAN