The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Works to re-mobilise Setraco Nigeria Ltd. for immediate completion of Iluke-Aiyetoro–Kiri-Abugi–Eggan Road in Kogi.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the call was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Rep. Salman Idris (APC-Kogi) at plenary on Thursday.
Moving the motion earlier, Idris said that the strategic socio-economic importance of the road to the country’s economy could not be over-emphasised.
According to Idris, the role is a major link among large-scale farming and agrarian communities.
He recalled that the Federal Executive Council had, on Wednesday, approved the sum of N25.3 billion for the construction of the road.
The lawmaker said that the contract was awarded to Setraco Nigeria Ltd., with the project consistently captured in successive Appropriations Act totalling N2.45 billion.
He said that the construction firm was mobilised to the site and had only completed approximately six kilometer s of asphalt work and some earth work at Giro Hill, out of a total of 79.63 kilometres, due to inadequate annual budgetary releases.
“The abandonment of the project has caused severe ecological challenges to adjoining communities, crippling their means of livelihood, while cutting them off from accessing neighbouring towns.
“We are concerned that the deplorable state of the road continues to inflict hardship on commuters, including the loss of productive time and economic opportunities, while also limiting access to essential services such as healthcare;
“We are also concerned that the communities along the corridor have become frequent targets of terrorist attacks, with several lives lost and others injured or kidnapped.
“The current state of the road poses serious safety hazards, as the open excavations and uneven surfaces have become accident-prone areas, leading to avoidable loss of lives.
“The abandonment of this critical infrastructure has stifled grassroots development, hindered the movement of goods and services, discouraged investment and diminished the overall quality of lives of residents in the area,” he said.
The house, therefore, urged the Inspector-General of Police to ensure regular patrols along the corridor to curb the activities of criminals.
In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, mandated the Committee on Appropriation to ensure adequate funding for the project in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
He also mandated the Committee on Works to ensure compliance by the Federal Ministry of Works and oversee the timely completion of the project. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)