• How collapsed federal roads cause Nigerians distress, fuel insecurity

     • Despite on-going rehabilitation works, many federal roads are in horrible states

By Our reporters

Across the country, many federal roads are in a state of horror. Passing through them is like navigating your way through the shadows of death and distress.

Many have applauded the Bola Tinubu administration for working to revamp Nigeria’s road infrastructure, with several ongoing rehabilitation projects and new road initiatives.

However, in spite of the performance of the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, which has been acknowledged and commended by a number of Nigerians, many federal roads remain in a state of disrepair, posing challenges to economic growth and safety.

Indeed, the roads have been in deplorable states for many years. Nigerians hope that the federal and state governments would put in more efforts to work on the roads to ease the pain of motorists and other Nigerians using the roads.

Saturday Sun reporters visited some federal roads in the country, which revealed the sweet and bitter experiences of travellers on the federal highways.

Ibadan-Jalingo road in shambles

The Lagos to Jalingo federal road, via Abeokuta, Ibadan, Akure, Kabba, Okene, Ajaokuta, Ayigba, Makurdi and Namnai River, is one of the critical transportation arteries in Nigeria. It is approximately 1, 200 kilometres. The road is meant to facilitate commerce and connectivity.

SaturdaySun correspondent, OLUSEYE OJO, who recently took a fact-finding tour of the Lagos-Jalingo, reports that the larger percentage of the highway is now plagued by severe infrastructure deficiencies. It is riddled with potholes and marred by insecurity. The dangerous zone has claimed many lives, and also drained resources.

It was gathered that the state of the road has led to insecurity, involving armed herders, armed robbers, and bandits taking advantage of stranded vehicles. The federal road between Abeokuta in Ogun State to Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, via Odeda is in a deplorable state.

The appalling state of the road has become a major concern for motorists and commuters. The road has been neglected for years, leading to frequent accidents, gridlocks, and increased travel times. The road was said to be one of the most accident-prone in the country, with over 170 lives lost annually.

Deep potholes, narrow lanes, and lack of drainage systems, particularly between Odeda and Orile-Ilugun have been contributing to the road’s deplorable state. As gathered, the gridlocks are common, causing frustration and economic losses for commuters and businesses.

A commercial motorist, Akande Abiola, plying Apata in Ibadan to Atan Park in Abeokuta, urged the Federal Government and Ogun State to synergise and prioritise the road’s reconstruction to alleviate suffering and promote economic growth.

Also, the Ibadan-Ife Junction-Ilesha-Akure Road is another long stretch of nightmare for travellers. The dual carriageway from Iwo Road Interchange in Ibadan to Adegbayi has been fixed by the Oyo State Government.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State stated in his address during the commissioning of Ibadan Central Bus Terminal one and two, some days ago, that the road was fixed with Oyo State money. He added that the state got approval from the Federal Government before embarking on the reconstruction. He made it known that the Federal Government has begun to refund the state on the project. He added that the stretch of the road from Adegbayi to Asejire, which is the boundary of Oyo and Osun States is also in bad condition. He stated that the state has also sought approval from the Federal Government to fix the road from Adegbayi to Asejire. Once approval is granted, he said, the reconstruction would begin.

The highway is also in good state from Asejire to Ikire. But from Ikire to Gbongan up to Ife Junction, and Iwaraja, craters, and potholes dot the expressway.

Immediately after Ikire, motorists would leave their lane that goes towards Ife, and join the other lane coming from the other end because of bad portions on the road. They would drive against the traffic to Gbongan, and then return to their lane. After about two kilometres, they would revert to the other lane again and drive on it against the traffic to the roundabouts at Ife Junction.

The manoeuvrings would continue till Iwaraja where the dual carriageway stopped and a single highway leads to Akure in Ondo State. But driving against the traffic has caused many road traffic crashes that claimed many lives, and caused varying degrees of injury to many survivors.

Also, the stretch from Iwaraja in Ilesha to Akure is better, though a single lane, with some sharp and dangerous bends. The stretch also has some portions that have become awful.

The road goes through Owena, North Gate of Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) to Ogbese and Owo. But the Ogbese axis of the road, where roasted yam and plantain are being sold, is also bad.

Some portions of the road from Owo to Ikare, Akungba and Arigidi up to the boundary of Ondo and Kogi States in Kabba have been fixed.

The main gate of Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko has been locked permanently due to incessant accidents that have claimed lives of many students, travellers and other residents of the town. A steep slope near the main gate of the university has been associated with the numerous accidents, particularly involving heavy-duty trucks and trailers that usually rolled back while climbing the hill.  As gathered, each time a vehicle rolls back, the other ones behind it would be in trouble. The vehicle that rolls back usually lost control and crashed into shops or pedestrians near the university gate.

But a visit to the hill on Wednesday November 19, 2025, revealed that efforts were on-going to reduce the steepness of the hill and prevent accidents, known as grade reduction or hill flattening in civil engineering.

A similar steep hill near Ikare has also been flattened. It was gathered that the action has decreased the risk of accidents, especially those being caused by brake failure or loss of control.

Some sections of the road between Kabba and Okene have been cut, filled with granites and were awaiting being tarred.

It was observed that the junction where the straight road leads to Lokoja and the road to the right goes to Okene, the road is not too bad up till a place known as Checkpoint, where the road to the left leads to Ajaokuta.

The road from Okene to Ajaokuta, though a dual carriageway, is dilapidated. The motorists on the road have no option other than to leave their lane and divert to the alternate lane in order to avoid worse portions of the road. Many portions of the road have failed.

The road from Ajaokuta through Itobe and Apa is also deplorable, up to the big roundabouts in Ayigba. But from the roundabouts, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Egume, Nigerian Navy Secondary School in Okura to Ajobe, larger percentage of the stretch was good.

But there is a very deep gully at Ajobe junction, which cut one side of the road. Ajobe is in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi’ State.

The the single lane federal road from Ajobe in Kogi’ State to Adoka in Benue State, as observed, is a road to hell. Some lines of tar were seen in some portions of the road, which showed that the road was tarred before it went from bad to worst and to worse.

Unlike many security checkpoints mounted at strategic portions of the highway, there was no security presence on the road from Ajobe to Adoka. The section of the road is sandwiched by forest to the right and left.

Checkpoints of soldiers, policemen, and vigilance groups were only seen in the suburb of Adoka town. The journey from Ajobe to Adoka, which should last for about 45 minutes if the road is in a good state, now takes close to three hours. Almost 99 per cent of its length and breath have failed completely.  It was further gathered that the distance between Adoka and Otukpo is 57 kilometres. But the rough state of the road could increase travel time from about 30 minutes to more than one hour.

Also, the approximately 118-kilometre Otukpo to Makurdi route that should take about one hour and 18 minutes now takes about three hours to navigate.  The travel time by road from Makurdi to Jalingo, which is approximately 450 kilometres, and should take around six hours and 33 minutes, can take up to 15 to 16 hours these days.

Apart from the appalling state of the road, the travel time is also increased by the current state of the Namnai Bridge, which connects Taraba, Benue, and southern Nigeria. The bridge collapsed in August 2024, due to flooding.

Currently, vehicles and people are being ferried across the river, with its attendant high risks. There are reports that some of the wooden boats being used to ferry people across the river capsized on some occasions, which led to loss of lives. Those who have had the experience of putting their vehicles on wooden boats to cross the river, said at times, they would get to the bank of the river and join the regular traffic of cars that wanted to get to the other side.

Also, promises from the Federal Government and the Taraba State Government to reconstruct the bridge have not yet been fulfilled.  The latest information from Taraba State is that some locals came together recently and made sandbags to improvise a bridge for crossing the Namnai River.

Work on-going in Benue, but more effort needed

In Benue State, the condition of Federal roads has remained a major source of worry to residents and commuters alike. However, after the Minister of Works, David Umah visited to flag-off construction of the Makurdi/9th Mile road, work commenced immediately giving relief to residents, drivers and passengers on that route.

While work is currently on-going on the road and some others, SCHOLASTICA HIR reports so many roads have remained what people described as death traps. Some of the roads in bad shape include the 41km Makurdi-Naka-Adoka road.

The road located in Gwer West Local Government Area is seen by many drivers as the shortest route to Otukpo and parts of the Benue South. But over the years, the road has been in a sorry state. It is also one of the deadliest routes in the state as a result of the incessant herdsmen attacks and kidnappings of commuters on that axis.

Other federal roads in bad condition in the state include the Makurdi-Gboko-Katsina-Ala road, the Ihugh-Korinya road, the Aliade-Gboko road, the Otukpo-Oweto among many others.

At the Federal Ministry of Works in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, the Comptroller of works was not on seat when the reporter visited; he was said to have travelled to Abuja on official engagement. An official at the ministry, who didn’t disclose his name, referred our correspondent to Abuja for further information, saying he had no authority to speak on the federal roads.

But our correspondent gathered reliably that work is progressing on the hitherto dilapidated Oju-Adum-Okuku road that stretches into neighbouring Cross Rivers State, while work on the over 250km Makurdi-Aliade-Outkpo-Otukpa-Opi-9th Mile road is being done steadily by the contractor, Chinese Harbour.

The State Organising Secretary, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Richard Ubur described on-going work on Federal roads in the state as commendable, particularly the Makurdi/9th Mile road.

“There is positive development. Though they have not done it to 100 per cent, we see they are on site steadily. Those sharp spots that were badly damaged, particularly the Makurdi/Aliade road and from Aliade down to Otukpo, are better now.

“Before now from Aliade down to Otukpo takes us over one hour. After plying the roads, you take your vehicle straight to the mechanics. But now, they have filled the areas up for easy movement. Now from Aliade to Otukpo, a good driver who is familiar with the road can get there in 40 to 50 minutes.

“I can also attest that work is on going at the bridge crossing River Buruku. So we really commend the federal government.”

Ubur, however, noted that many other federal roads in the state need urgent attention. According to him, the Yandev/Katsina-Ala/Adikpo road is so bad and needs urgent work. “We heard the road has been awarded for rehabilitation but we haven’t seen anyone working there. We appeal to the federal government to mobilise workers to site. But so far, we commend them.”

Another commercial driver, James Terhemba, was also full of praise for the federal government especially for the on-going work at Makurdi/Enugu road.

Terhemba who plies Makurdi/Enugu road on daily basis said: “Before now, we were suffering. We drive and sometimes you feel like coming down and lifting the car to cross some bad places. Every week we change car parts because of damages, but it has eased out now. The road is better. We are hoping that before December, the roads would even be smoother.”

He lamented the bad state of the Makurdi/Naka road saying because the road is in bad state coupled with insecurity on that axis of the state, drivers have totally abandoned the road. “Only okada riders ply that route now. The government should also repair that road because most times we use it as short cut to travel out from Makurdi.”

Kaduna residents want Kaduna-Abuja highway completed

Kaduna residents at Gonin-Gora area of the Abuja highway have been subjected to some difficulties in assessing their houses freely since the reconstruction of the Kaduna-Abuja highway started few years ago. They expressed worry over slow pace of work on the reconstruction of the highways.

Some of the difficulties encountered on the road on a daily basis, as reported by NOAH EBIJE, include dusty atmosphere, constant traffic hold-ups owing to the slow pace of the road repairs. The popular Abuja junction in Kaduna city has seemingly become an unending gridlock, with residents and travellers being held up for hours most of the times.

According to a resident, Emmanuel Ebong, who lives in Gonin-Gora area of Kaduna city, “the slow pace of this road reconstruction is causing a lot of havoc for us residents in this area. Most of the time I have to rush to go to work in order to avoid heavy traffic arising from trailers and other long vehicles coming from Abuja side of the road during the morning hours. Same way, I have to leave office ahead of time and hurry home in order to also beat the traffic. It’s because of diversions on the roads here and there that we are witnessing this traffic jam everyday. I think it is high time this road got completed to save us from this trouble, including the dusty atmosphere covering our roofs and rooms”.

Another resident, Madam Sarah Seriki expressed anger against the slow pace of the work.

“Truly speaking, all the people living in this area of Kaduna city are suffering. We are suffering from dust entering our homes and everyday heavy traffic. This has caused commercial drivers to increase their transport fare to and fro this area”.

One of the site engineers handling the road reconstruction who pleaded anonymity said: “Now that the rains are gone, the work is moving faster than before, and we hope that all vital areas will be completed before Christmas. We are not unaware of the difficulties people are passing through here. We are appealing that they should bear with us because it is a question of time, the road will soon be okay”.

It was gathered that the total cost for the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano-Katsina highway project is estimated at ₦754 billion. The project has faced delays in the past, but the new approach using concrete is expected to lead to long-term savings and durability.

Interestingly, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has made multiple visits and held meetings regarding the Abuja-Kaduna road repairs, most recently in October 2025. During these events, he inspected the progress on the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, which uses durable concrete pavement technology to replace the old asphalt.  He met with Kaduna Governor Uba Sani to discuss expediting the project, saying it is a priority for the administration, and also gave instructions to contractors to accelerate work by implementing double shifts and increasing work zones.

The Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway reconstruction is a major project using reinforced rigid concrete pavement technology to ensure durability and reduce long-term maintenance costs.

The minister visited the project on multiple occasions, including in October 2025, to review progress and meet with officials and contractors. During recent meetings, Umahi instructed contractors to increase work zones, work in double shifts, and deploy more equipment to speed up the project.

He specifically directed the project engineer to relocate to Kaduna to monitor daily progress. The project aims to significantly improve travel time, enhance safety, and boost economic activity along the corridor.  The current administration has set an ambitious deadline of 2025 for completion, which the Ministry is actively working to meet.

Roads wearing new look in Imo

In Imo State, most of the bad roads are now wearing a new look, although still under reconstruction. Onitsha/Owerri road which has always been a nightmare to motorists is being widened with a good drainage system. The same could be said of the Port Harcourt/Owerri road which used to be a death trap, particularly before Avu junction and its environ.

STANLEY UZOARU reports, however, that the same can hardly be said of some parts of Aba/Owerri and Nekede Ihiagwa roads. The Nekede Ihiagwa road is one that leads to the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede and Federal University of Technology,(FUTO). The roads which were commissioned twice by late former President, Muhammad Buhari is in a total mess, especially from the Assemblies of God axis. The school community has made several appeals to the appropriate authorities to no avail. Contractors handling the road seemed to have abandoned it, leaving only their machines and heaps of granite there. A student who spoke to our correspondent has made another appeal to the federal government to immediately come to their aid, especially now the rainy season is over.

“We beg the federal government to please help us. The situation on this road has made our going to school unbearable and the hike in transport fares is terrible,” he stated.

Perilous roads in Cross River

Commuters in Cross River State are facing very perilous times as they traverse some federal roads in the state, so reports ANIEKAN ANIEKAN.

These roads, which include the Calabar Itu Road, Ikom – Obudu road, Oban road and many others have not been in their best state. The Calabar-Itu Road, for instance, is always in the news and very notorious for its bad state. Commuters and travellers always have a tale of woe to express on the state of road.

Minister of Works, David Umahi has made a series of visits to the road, giving assurance of its completion. But residents say nothing much has come out of these assurances.

Construction giants, Julius Berger, which handled segments of the road a couple of years ago, pulled out for some inexplicable reasons.

Subsequently, Hitech Construction was mandated by the ministry to undertake some partial work on the road, but these have not availed much.

A recent visit by federal lawmakers on oversight responsibilities decried the state of the road and called for prompt action to ameliorate the plight of motorists.

However, responding to the state of the road, Yinka Onafuye, the federal controller of works in the state said the road project is fully funded but the present delay has to do with compensations and rains. He disclosed that when the issue of compensation is fully sorted out, contractors would have full access to work on the road, particularly when the rain abates. He further disclosed that the change from asphalt to concrete also made it difficult for commuters because concrete technology takes a while to set.

Erikan Ituen, a commercial bus driver however expressed concern with the perennial delay in constructing the road saying the suffering has lasted for too long. He called on the government to declare the road a national emergency because lives have been lost on the road and it’s poor state has made drivers suffer huge losses.

Hope rises on sections of East-West road

The Eleme axis of the East-West Road is expected to be opened to the public soon, with the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, assuring completion by December 2025.  The project is part of President Bola Tinubu’s infrastructure development plan, aiming to improve transportation and economic growth in the region.

TONY JOHN reports that the road project, valued at ₦156billion, is a 15-kilometre four-lane dual concrete road stretching from Eleme to Onne in Rivers State. It is designed with reinforced concrete for durability and features solar lights, CCTV, tolling points, and relief parks, when completed.  The Eleme axis of the road was opened to the public in May.  Construction work is on-going on Port Harcourt-bound section which started in June. 

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, in one of his visits, disclosed that the road is designed for durability and expected to last for between 50 and 100 years without maintenance.

Some of the road users and people doing business along the road have commended President Tinubu for his commitment to reconstruct the road, which had claimed so many lives after years of abandonment.  One of the  commercial drivers plying Port Harcourt/Onne road, Monday Nwinee, told the reporter that with the Eleme axis partly completed, traffic has reduced on the road.

But, he expressed concern that work is slow on the only bridge, and called on the minister to order the contractor, Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), to speed up work on the road.

Nwinee said: “This side of the road (Eleme axis) is partly accessible now. But, the entire work is still very slow.  Work is slow on the bridge. It’s only when the bridge is done that we would know that the road is finished. But, for now, we are still managing the road. A worker with one of the companies in Oil and Gas Free Zone, Onne, who gave his name simply as Mr Douglas, appealed to the Minister of Works to direct the contractor to utilise the dry weather currently experienced in Port Harcourt and its environs and fasten the project.

“Those of us that use this East-West road at least five days in a week have suffered enough. Although the work is still in progress, we are worried that the contractor is slow, particularly on the bridge.

“The Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, should order RCC to be fast with the work, especially at this dry period.  He has told Nigerians that this part of East-West road would be completed this December.”

In Abia, some federal roads in urgent need of repairs

In Abia State, Federal Government roads that are in urgent need of repairs include the Umuahia/Bende/Ohafia road, the Umuahia/Ikot Ekpene road and the Aba section of the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway. While the Federal Government is tackling the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway and the Abia State Government flagged off the reconstruction of the Umuahia/Ikot Highway, nothing is presently happening on the Umuahia/Bende/Ohafia road, reports OKEY SAMPSON.

Recently, the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi inspected some portions of the Enugu-Port-Harcourt Expressway where he urged the contractors to double their efforts to ensure timely delivery of the road projects.

During the visit, Umahi threatened to terminate the part of the project being handled by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) over the slow pace of work. However Governor Alex Otti’s intervention made him to withdraw the threat.

Before now, motorists travelling to Port Harcourt from Aba used to pass through Imo State, to Etche before getting to the Garden city, as a result of the debilitating condition of the Aba Section of the Expressway. That experience is now a thing of the past as portions of the expressway has been reconstructed up to Port Harcourt, ensuring a smooth journey.

Commuters expressed joy with the Federal Government over her efforts in ensuring the reconstruction of the road, which started some years back, was completed this year.

The Umuahia/Ikot Ekpene road has remained bad over the years with subsequent administrations promising to fix it, but to no avail.

However, penultimate week, Abia State Government took over the reconstruction of the road, with Governor Otti flagging it off. The motoring public applauded Abia State Government for taking the bold initiative to reconstruct the road.

Ikechi Ndubueze, a commercial bus driver who plies the road, said the state government did the right thing by taking over the reconstruction of the road.

“That road has been in a very bad shape over the years and subsequent administrations have made promises to repair without fulfilling any of the promises. “Now that Governor Otti’s administration has taken over the reconstruction of the road, economic activities will fully resume along that corridor.”

Criminals taking advantage of bad highways in Plateau

In Plateau State, most of the federal roads are in complete state of disrepair, with motorists spending hours on the pothole riddled roads.

As reported by JUDE OWUAMANAM, Such federal roads as the Jos-Akwanga-Abuja road, the Kaduna-Pambeguwa-Jos road, the Pankshin-TapshinGambar-Sara-Kai-Gindiri, are in several stages of deterioration. Though the federal government said that it had awarded contract for the dualisation of most of these roads, especially the Jos-Akwanga road, our correspondent, who plied the road last Thursday observed that no contractor has been mobilised to the site

A driver plying the Jos-Abuja road,, who described himself as Usman, told our correspondent that it takes many hours to get to Abuja from Jos and vice versa.

According to him, the road has put both drivers and passengers at the risk of armed robbers and bandits, who take advantage of the bad roads to waylay them along the road.

He said, “We have a lot of bad spots, especially at the notorious Hawan Kibo Hills, Forest junction and others. Passing these spots, especially at night, poses a lot of insecurity.”

However the Coordinator of Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Ayo Bolaji, an engineer, said that most of the federal roads in Plateau state are currently receiving attention having been marked in the 2025 appropriation.