A Kogi-born political activist, Usman Okai Austin, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give the Lokoja-Abuja highway the same level of attention and funding as the Abuja-Kaduna expressway.
Speaking to journalists in Anyigba, Kogi State, Okai expressed concern over the slow progress of work on the road, accusing the Federal Government of awarding parts of the project to contractors he described as inexperienced and poorly supervised.
He urged Tinubu to instruct the Minister of Works to transfer the contracts to reputable construction companies with the equipment and capacity to complete the project.
He also called for regular funding to ensure that work progresses without further delays.
“Commuters are suffering. People are spending nights trapped between Lokoja and Abuja, yet this is the major artery connecting the Federal Capital Territory to the southern part of the country,” Okai said.
The activist recalled that the approximately 200-kilometre highway was first awarded in 2006, towards the end of former President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration.
The project, which was divided into several sections, had an initial contract value of about ₦42 billion and was expected to be completed within 30 months.
However, nearly two decades later, the road remains unfinished after facing repeated delays under the administrations of late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari. The setbacks were linked to contract reviews, increased costs and inadequate funding.
Although the Tinubu administration took steps to address the situation between late 2025 and early 2026 by cancelling contracts awarded to some underperforming companies and reassigning major sections, including a section awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc in March 2026, Okai said there was little evidence of progress at the site.
“Unfortunately, there is no sign of Julius Berger on that stretch. Instead, the unknown contractors are still there doing nothing, claiming poor funding,” the activist stated.
He added: “Whatever the case may be, it is time for decisive action because Nigerians are going through hell on that road daily.”
Okai appealed to the Minister of Works to make the Lokoja-Abuja highway a major priority, saying urgent intervention was needed to ease the difficulties faced by motorists and other travellers.
Activist slams FG over neglect, poor funding of Lokoja-Abuja road