The Federal Government has raised concerns over the slow pace of work on several Abuja–Lokoja road projects, urging contractors to improve performance and meet agreed deadlines on infrastructure considered critical to national mobility and economic activity.
Recent assessments revealed wide disparities in progress across the corridors, with some sections nearing completion while others showed minimal advancement despite mobilisation and extended timelines.
The government stressed that contracts were awarded based on demonstrated technical and financial capacity, warning that persistent delays could undermine public confidence and worsen hardship for road users.
During an inspection exercise on Monday, Dr Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for the North Central region, said the team was reviewing progress and engaging with host communities along the Abuja–Lokoja axis.
She described the route as a vital North–South link but expressed dissatisfaction with the execution level, noting that contractors remained on site without corresponding improvements in delivery.
“The progress is not encouraging. With just a few months to the deadline, they haven’t achieved much. I’m not impressed,” she said.
Figures from the inspection showed that reconstruction of the 47-kilometre Kotonkarfe–Abaji section by Trucrete Solutions Nigeria Ltd. stood at 10.21 per cent, while rehabilitation of Abuja–Lokoja Section 4A by Sailthrough Construction Ltd. reached 22.40 per cent. Dualisation of Lokoja–Benin Road Section I, Phases I and II, handled by CGC Nigeria Ltd., recorded 38.04 per cent completion.
In contrast, repairs on the Lokoja–Ganaja Road, awarded to Gitto Costruzioni General Nigeria Ltd. in October 2023 for six months using concrete pavement, had reached 99.73 per cent completion following intervention during the festive traffic surge.
Essiet urged contractors and the Controller of Works to deploy additional equipment and manpower, improve coordination, and enhance communication with authorities and the media on diversions or blockages, assuring that funding was secured through structured payments, including the Renewed Hope Intervention Fund.
“Funding is no excuse for delays—these contracts were awarded based on your capacity. The President will release funds, but you must accelerate work,” she said, while commending the Police and Federal Road Safety Corps for traffic control and confirming that military security had been provided following earlier concerns.
Controller of Works Patiko Musa acknowledged setbacks but said work was ongoing across multiple sections, adding that requests for revised schedules, extensions, and outstanding payments were being processed.
He also announced the inauguration of an emergency flood intervention at kilometre 27 on the Itobe–Anyingba Road in Kogi State.
