By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Government has reinforced its commitment to national connectivity and inclusive economic growth with the commissioning of completed emergency road interventions and an inspection of ongoing strategic road projects across Plateau State, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The interventions, which include sections of the Lafia–Shendam Road and the Babban Lamba–Sharram Road, were undertaken as part of the Federal Ministry of Works’ national media tour of the North Central region, aimed at showcasing completed emergency repairs, assessing progress on critical projects, and reaffirming the administration’s resolve to deliver sustainable infrastructure nationwide.
In an official signed statement, the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Ministry, Mohammed Ahmed, disclosed that the tour highlights the Ministry’s determination to restore and expand Nigeria’s road network under the transformative leadership of the Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE. According to him, the exercise aligns with President Tinubu’s aggressive infrastructure development drive under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
During the tour, several emergency and special intervention projects were commissioned, while strategic road projects at various stages of completion were inspected, with the Babban Lamba–Sharram Road serving as the final stop in Plateau State. Upon assuming office in May 2023, the administration inherited 2,064 ongoing federal road projects, many of which had suffered abandonment due to funding constraints. To address this challenge, the Federal Government approved 260 emergency road projects nationwide, prioritising critically failed sections to restore connectivity, improve safety, and facilitate the smooth movement of goods, services, and people.
The commissioning of completed interventions was performed on behalf of the Minister of Works by the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Plateau State Council, Mrs Ayiku Pwaspo. She emphasised that the Federal Government is not only committed to initiating projects but also ensuring their timely completion in line with approved standards, noting that quality road infrastructure remains central to sustainable development and economic expansion.
Providing technical details, the Federal Controller of Works (FCW), Plateau State, Engr. Jibril Shua’ibu, explained that one of the commissioned projects was the reinstatement of embankment washouts of a culvert and bridge at kilometre 30+250 (Kwande) along the Shendam–Lafia Road. The intervention covered Chainage 38+000 to 38+200 for the culvert washout and Chainage 30+250 for the bridge washout.
He stated that the project, awarded at a contract sum of ₦824 million, commenced in 2024 and was completed within a few months, successfully restoring safe and uninterrupted traffic flow along the corridor.
Engr. Shua’ibu further disclosed that another intervention along the same Lafia–Shendam alignment addressed structural failure, erosion control, and hydraulic capacity enhancement. The work involved the construction of a 2.0m x 1.5m double-cell box culvert beside an existing 2.0m x 1.5m single-cell culvert, along with asphalt overlay works at Chainage 1+500.
The media team was also taken to the site of an ongoing construction project covering a 16-kilometre stretch from the Lafia–Shendam Road Junction through Poeship to Ngotuguut towns. The Controller revealed that an additional 7-kilometre Section II of the project is currently undergoing procurement. He noted that the project, awarded to Messrs Triacta Construction Company at a contract sum of approximately ₦16 billion with a completion period of 15 months, has reached about 52 percent completion. Earlier funding-related challenges, he said, have been resolved, allowing work to progress steadily.
The Project Manager, Mr Nakhle Abou Yaounde, reaffirmed the contractor’s commitment to delivering the project in line with specifications and timelines, while commending the Federal Ministry of Works for consistent technical supervision and the host communities for their cooperation and patience.
Speaking on behalf of the host communities, the Community Liaison Officer, Pharmacist Senpet Yitnoe, described the Lafia–Shendam Junction–Poeship–Ngotuguut Road as a “road to endless possibilities,” highlighting its positive impact on access to farmlands, schools, and economic opportunities. He assured the Federal Government of continued community support for the project.
The tour also featured an inspection of the Babban Lamba–Sharram Road, a 44.625-kilometre new alignment linking Babban Lamba and Sharram communities in Plateau State. Although initially awarded as a rehabilitation project, Engr. Shua’ibu explained that the scope effectively amounts to the construction of a new flexible pavement, including side clearance, earthworks, sub-base, and stone base layers.
He noted that while the contract was awarded in 2018 with a completion period of 24 months, progress had previously stalled due to funding challenges. However, following the intervention of the Minister of Works, the contractor has fully remobilised to site, with active construction ongoing from the Sharram end. Multiple construction teams and equipment are now deployed across different sections of the corridor, a development that visibly renewed hope among host communities.
Speaking on the project, the Project Coordinator for Ric Rock Construction (Nigeria) Limited, Engr. Kenneth, disclosed that the road, with a carriageway width of 7.3 metres and shoulders of 2.75 metres on both sides, will significantly reduce travel time between communities, cutting journeys that previously took nearly two hours to about 20 minutes. He added that the project includes multiple bridge structures along the corridor, with work progressing simultaneously on road and bridge components.
Similarly, the Site Agent, Engr. Augustine Imiere, explained that the Babban Lamba–Sharram Road is designed to open up markets, improve access to businesses, and boost socio-economic activities across connected communities and beyond. He disclosed that the project includes extensive drainage facilities, hydraulic structures, and five bridges, including multi-span bridges at various locations, expressing confidence that with sustained support from the Ministry and continued community cooperation, the project will be completed soon.
