Senate backs special funding for Kogi roads

The Senate, on Wednesday, resolved to include the long-neglected Anyigba–Dekina–Shintaku Road in Kogi East among projects to be funded under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Isah Jibrin (Kogi East), who drew the attention of lawmakers to the strategic importance of the road and its current deplorable condition.

Presenting the motion, Senator Jibrin described the road as “a vital transport artery” linking communities in Kogi East to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and the Southeast and South-South regions.

“The Anyigba–Dekina–Shintaku road is not just a route; it is an economic lifeline for thousands of commuters and businesses,” Jibrin said.

“Unfortunately, this federal road has deteriorated so badly that motorists now abandon it for the much longer Lokoja–Ajaokuta–Anyigba route.”

The lawmaker lamented that what was once a 40-minute journey in the 1980s now takes over four hours due to the road’s terrible condition.

He recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its meeting of January 26, 2022, approved the reconstruction of the road, following which the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing awarded the contract to Tech Engineering Company Nigeria Limited on February 3, 2022.

“Regrettably, the contract was revoked recently due to the contractor’s delays in execution, and no re-award has been made since,” he told the Senate.

Jibrin, however, expressed optimism that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund, an intervention mechanism designed to finance key projects through innovative financing models, offered a lifeline for the long-abandoned project.

“The Federal Government’s creative use of special funding windows such as the Sukuk bond has shown that alternative financing can deliver results where traditional budgetary allocations have failed,” he argued.

“The same model can ensure the completion of the Anyigba–Dekina–Shintaku road.”

Following deliberations, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Works to explore the use of a special purpose fund for the completion of the road.

It also recommended the establishment of toll gates at both ends upon completion to “generate revenues to defray construction costs and ensure sustainable maintenance.”

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Contributing to the debate, Tahir Monguno, the Senate Whip, who also serves as Deputy Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, proposed the inclusion of the Anyigba–Dekina–Shintaku road in the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund project list of President Tinubu’s administration, a suggestion that received unanimous approval from senators present.

“This is a project that fits squarely within the Renewed Hope agenda,” Monguno said.

“It speaks to the government’s commitment to reconnect neglected communities, boost economic activities, and ensure that no part of Nigeria is left behind.”