By Daniel Tyokua
The Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement to President Bola Tinubu for the North Central zone, Dr. Abiodun Essiet has scored the contractors handling Abuja -Lokoja -Benin road low.
Speaking on Monday after inspection of the projects, she regretted the delay, saying the roads must be taken seriously considering their significance for the North and Southern Regions
On the progress of reconstruction of existing pavement and completion of the dualization of Abuja -Lokoja highway, section II, Abaji -Koton-Karfe road, she asked the firm to show capacity by deploying more equipment and personnel to the site.
Recall that the section with a length of 50.797km was awarded at the cost of N56,175, 381, 738.16 in February, 2022 to Messrs Geld Limited / Triacta Nigeria Limited, with Messrs Factorial Engineering Limited as the consultant.
She said the project with completion schedule at 17.09 per cent was still at 16.71 per cent since its Inception in 2022, amid the assurances from the firm.
Essiet described the slow pace of work as unacceptable and discouraging, considering the interest Tinubu has in the project.
Regarding the bridge on Lokoja -Benin road,
the visibly angry aide, told the contractor to go the extra mile and mop up funds and pump into the project for timely completion.
She said funding of the project shouldn’t be a challenge to the contractor, assuring that the federal government will pay from the Renewed Hope Initiative fund.
“I am not impress with the pace of work, these roads are critical because of their importance. The contractor should mop up funds from all the sources and complete the project in time.
“Please show capacity, the federal government will not owe you. You will be paid from Renewed Hope Initiative fund, there is nothing to worry ” Essiet said.
On security of the company’s workers, Essiet assured them of adequate protection from soldiers in Kogi state.
She also inaugurated the completed special intervention on the effect of flooding on washout embankment at Km 27 + 900km, 39+750 on Itobe – Ayingba road.
Defending the slow pace of work, the controller of works, Musa Paiko linked the delay to insecurity and heavy rains in 2025.
He said before the end of first quarter of 2026 there would be appreciable progress on the road projects.
