Kogi Assembly Takes Action: Summons Contractor Over Abandoned Road Project Fueling Criminal Activities

The Kogi State House of Assembly has summoned Spectrum Engineering LTD to explain why the 6km Ihima-Oboroke-Obangede road reconstruction project was abandoned.

The dilapidated road has not only hindered commercial activities among the affected communities but has also become a breeding ground for criminal activities, posing a threat to the lives and properties of residents and travelers.

In a motion of urgent public importance, Otokiti Alhassan Zakariya, the member representing Okehi Constituency, highlighted the increasing cases of robbery, kidnapping, theft, and rape along the abandoned road.

He emphasized that the contract for the reconstruction of the road was awarded to Spectrum Engineering LTD in 2016 with a completion period of less than a year, but the firm failed to comply with the contract terms even after receiving 60% of the contract sum.

Despite repeated interventions by the House Committee on Works of the 6th Assembly and appeals by individuals, the contractor did not complete the project.

The abandoned project has provided criminals with the opportunity to carry out their attacks, as the bad road slows down vehicular movement and hinders quick response by security personnel.

Speaker of the House Aliyu Umar Yusuf expressed concern over the growing security challenges in the state, citing personal experiences and incidents involving students of Federal University Lokoja, who are now living in fear due to increased robbery and theft.

He called on the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, Vigilantes, and other security agencies to beef up security in the state.

In response to the issue, the Speaker directed the House Committee on Works and Infrastructure and the Kogi State Ministry of Work to jointly carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the project and propose appropriate recommendations to the House.

This action is aimed at addressing the security challenges posed by the abandoned road project and ensuring the safety of the affected communities.