The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the timely completion of ongoing road projects linking Lafia to Makurdi and Nasarawa to Toto in Nasarawa State.
It said the 15-kilometre Lafia bypass, which stretches towards Makurdi and connects the South-East corridor, is already nearing completion.
Speaking after an inspection tour of the project, the Federal Controller of Works in Nasarawa State, Ishaku Mamri, disclosed that the road is currently at about 92.6 per cent completion.
Mamri said the project, initially awarded with a completion timeline of 48 months, is expected to be completed and opened for public use by the end of March 2026.
He noted that the bypass would help reduce traffic congestion within Lafia metropolis and shorten travel time for motorists passing through the state.
According to him, the project has undergone several engineering integrity assessments by professional regulatory bodies to ensure quality delivery.
Mamri commended the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, for his commitment to ensuring quality standards and speedy completion of road projects across the country.
Also speaking during the inspection, the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Works, Muhammad Ahmad, said the road forms part of the Tinubu administration’s broader infrastructure strategy to improve connectivity across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
He stressed that the federal government would not tolerate sharp practices in the construction or rehabilitation of public infrastructure.
Ahmad added that the ministry remains committed to completing all projects awarded under its supervision, noting that improved road networks would enhance security, safety and economic opportunities in affected communities.
On his part, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Muazu Gosho, expressed the state government’s readiness to continue collaborating with the federal government in addressing critical infrastructure needs.
During the inspection tour, the team also visited Kwarra community in Keana Local Government Area of the state to commission a 6.4-kilometre rural road connecting Agyaragu Keana, Doka, Ginda Rai and Rikubi communities.
The road project, which forms part of a larger 10.6-kilometre route awarded in 2022, is expected to improve access to farmlands and local markets.
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Nasarawa State, Salihu Mohammed Alkali, who spoke during the commissioning, urged the federal government to expedite completion of the remaining sections before the onset of the rainy season.
The inspection team also visited the 137-kilometre Keffi–Nasarawa–Toto–Abaji road project, which was approved for extension last year by President Bola Tinubu to enhance inter-state connectivity between the Federal Capital Territory and parts of the North-Central region.
However, Alkali expressed concern over what he described as the slow pace and poor quality of work on the project being handled by Wizchino Engineering Limited.
He called for the immediate revocation of the contract and its reassignment to a more competent contractor.
According to him, government spending on infrastructure projects must be matched with quality work and accountability.
Umar Muhammed in Lafia
