Residents of communities in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State are expressing growing frustration over the abandonment of the Lafia–Agyaragun–Tofa road project, which was initiated nearly a decade ago but remains incomplete.
When the state government announced in 2017 that contracts had been awarded for the construction of the six-kilometre road, many residents celebrated, hoping it would improve access to markets, schools, and healthcare facilities. Eight years later, however, the road project has stalled, leaving communities to grapple with deteriorating conditions.
During a visit to the area, PREMIUM TIMES observed Iliya Musa, a resident of Agyaragun, attempting to repair potholes with bags of sand alongside his seven-year-old son. Although some commuters occasionally give him small tokens for his effort, he explained that the frequent accidents and security threats on the road prompted him to act.
According to Mr Musa, travelling on the road becomes almost impossible whenever it rains. “People struggle to reach the market during the rainy season, so I try to fill the potholes to make the road passable,” he said.
Other residents also described the severe impact of the unfinished road, especially when emergencies require quick access to the Lafia Teaching Hospital. They noted that accidents and incidents of kidnapping have been reported along the route.
Mr Musa recalled a tragic accident in which a car crashed into a truck on the road, resulting in the death of two people.
The project initially received ₦200 million in 2016 through the state Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport. A further ₦120 million was allocated in 2017, bringing the estimated cost at the time to ₦320 million.
However, the road contract was later officially awarded on 2 July 2018 to Certified Engineering Ltd for ₦865,750,400.
Financial records indicate that the final payment of ₦155,835,072 was made to the contractor in 2020, completing the total contract sum. Despite this, the state’s arrears portal still lists the full contract amount as outstanding, raising questions about whether earlier payments were properly accounted for.
Further concerns have been raised about the legitimacy of the contractor. Certified Engineering Ltd, registered in Kaduna with registration number RC 38239, is currently listed as inactive on the Corporate Affairs Commission database due to its failure to file mandatory annual returns.
Officials at the commission confirmed that the company’s inactive status resulted from non-compliance with statutory filing requirements.
Investigations also revealed that the company’s listed headquarters at 18-19 Ahmadu Bello Way in Kaduna could not be located during a physical search. In addition, the company’s website does not provide a working telephone number or email address, and attempts to reach the firm over several weeks were unsuccessful.
Community leaders say they have repeatedly appealed to the state government to complete the road. The Hakimi of Agyaragun explained that several meetings had been held with the state governor, including one in December 2025, during which assurances were given that the issue would be addressed.
He warned that the lack of a functional road is hurting local economic activity and making transportation extremely difficult, particularly for farmers trying to move produce to nearby markets.
For residents of Agyaragun and neighbouring communities, the abandoned project has become more than an inconvenience. It has created daily challenges affecting safety, business activities, and access to essential services.
Although the Nasarawa State Urban Development Board, the agency overseeing the project, did not respond to a Freedom of Information request seeking clarification on the contract’s status, a senior state official said the government has now included the road project in the 2026 budget.
According to the official, the project was originally initiated under former governor Tanko Al-Makura between 2016 and 2017 but later stalled. The contract was reportedly re-awarded in 2019 under the supervision of the state’s Urban Development Board.
While the official declined to comment on possible irregularities in the original contracting process, he assured that the governor has approved the road’s completion in the 2026 budget.
For residents, however, promises alone are no longer enough. Many say they will only believe the project has truly resumed when construction workers return to the site.