Table of Contents
The Kogi State Assembly has summoned Spectrum Engineering Ltd to provide a briefing on why the reconstruction of the 6km Ihima-Oboroke-Obangede Road was abandoned.
This action was prompted by a motion of urgent public importance put forward by Hon. Otokiti Alhassan Zakariya, the representative of the Okehi Constituency.
Join our Telegram Channel for Updates
He expressed concern that the deteriorating condition of the road not only hinders commercial activities among the affected communities but also poses a threat to the lives and properties of constituents and travelers using the road.
Hon. Zakariya highlighted the increasing incidents of criminal activities, including robbery, kidnapping, theft, and rape, along the abandoned road. He noted that the contract for the road reconstruction was awarded to Spectrum Engineering Ltd in 2016 with a completion period of less than a year.
However, despite receiving 60 percent of the contract sum, the contractor failed to execute the project satisfactorily. Despite previous interventions by the Assembly and appeals for completion, the contractor did not fulfill its obligations, leaving the road unfinished and vulnerable to criminal activities.
The dire situation was emphasized by specific incidents, such as the abduction of a young man last year who was later released after ransom payment, and an ambush on Mr. Mustapha Nuhu, an Okehi Divisional Police Officer, resulting in a gunshot injury and severe leg fracture. Consequently, the number of motorists and farmers using the road has significantly decreased due to safety concerns.
In response, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, expressed concern over the escalating security challenges in the state, citing incidents of robbery targeting students and residents. He called for enhanced security measures by relevant agencies to prevent the state from becoming a safe haven for criminals.
The Speaker directed the House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, along with the Kogi State Ministry of Works, to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the project and propose necessary recommendations to address the situation.
