Member representing Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Salman Idris has urged the Federal Government to complete construction work on Iluke-Aiyetoro-Kiri-Abugi-Eggan Road that has been abandoned for long.
Recall that the Federal Executive Council, on Wednesday, 24 June 2020, approved the sum of
N25,352,783,772 for the construction of the road.
The contract was thereafter awarded to Setraco Nigeria Limited and was mobilised to the site and has only completed approximately 6 kilometres of asphalt work and some earthwork at Giro Hill, out of a total of 79.63 kilometres as a result of inadequate annual budgetary releases.
But Hon. Salman in a motion of urgent public importance moved during Thursday Plenary, said the road is important to the socioeconomic development of communities along the road as well as the nation.
The Federal Lawmaker noted that the road is a major link between agrarian communities, who are involved in large-scale farming.
Arc. Salman said he is disturbed that 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.
He expressed concern over the deplorable state of the road as it has continued to inflict hardship on commuters, including the loss of productive time and economic opportunities, “while also limiting access to essential services such as healthcare.”
According to him, terrorists are now taking advantage of the poor state of the road to their nefarious activities, leading to loss of lives and kidnapping of Innocent people.
“Worried that 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 life of residents in the area,” Hon. Salman added.
He urged the Federal Ministry of Works to remobilize Setraco Nigeria Limited to the site for the immediate continuation of construction work.
Similarly, the Lawmaker, called on the Inspector-General of Police to ensure regular patrols along the roads to curb criminal activities.
He prayed the House to mandate the Committee on Appropriation to ensure that adequate funding for the project is provided in the 2026 Appropriation Act and the Committee on Works to ensure compliance by the Federal Ministry of Works and to oversee the timely completion of the project.
