Bassa Leaders Urge FG, Kogi Govt To Rehabilitate Key Roads

Stakeholders in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State have called on the federal and state governments to urgently rehabilitate the Shintaku-Gboloko-Dekina and Odenyi-Oguma roads, citing their deteriorating condition and impact on economic activities across the area.

The stakeholders said the failed portions of the roads had made transportation difficult, affected the movement of agricultural produce and worsened the living conditions of residents.

The Shaaba of Mozum Kingdom, Alhaji Haruna A. Abubakar, made the appeal while urging both levels of government to prioritise the reconstruction of the road network linking Shintaku through Dekina and Anyigba, as well as adjoining routes connecting Odugbo to Mozum, Odenyi to Oguma and the Sheria axis.

Abubakar noted that while the Shintaku-Gboloko-Dekina road is a federal route, the Odugbo-Mozum and Odenyi-Oguma roads fall under the state government, stressing the need for each level of government to address the roads within its jurisdiction.

He said improved road infrastructure would facilitate the transportation of farm produce to Lokoja and other parts of Kogi State, thereby strengthening economic activities in the area.

According to him, Bassa is a major producer of cassava, beans, rice, yam, guinea corn, millet and fish, making good road networks essential to the growth of agriculture and trade.

The traditional ruler also commended the federal and state governments for ongoing efforts on the Shintaku-Ganaja Bridge, describing the project as critical to improving transportation and economic integration among communities.

He, however, urged political office holders from the area to work together and engage relevant government agencies to expedite action on the roads.

Abubakar acknowledged that the Kogi State Government had recently mobilised contractors to some portions of the roads but urged the administration to ensure that the contractors delivered durable and quality projects.

The appeal was also echoed by stakeholders at the formal launch and unveiling of the interim executive committee of the Bassa-Nge Progressive Union at Gboloko, headquarters of the Bassa-Nge Kingdom.

The Makama-Daniya of Bassa-Nge Kingdom and Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the union, M.B. Abdullahi, said the poor state of the roads had negatively affected the social and economic activities of communities across the local government.

Responding to the concerns, Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, assured the stakeholders of his administration’s commitment to improving infrastructure and living conditions in Bassa LGA.

Ododo disclosed that work on the Odenyi-Oguma Road would commence immediately after the rainy season.

On the Shintaku-Gboloko-Dekina Road, the governor said the state government was engaging the Federal Government to facilitate the reconstruction and completion of the federal project being handled by TEC Engineering.

He added that, on his directive, the state Commissioner for Works had visited the Minister of Works twice to press for the completion of the project.

The governor gave the assurances when he received a delegation of Bassa stakeholders and members of the Bassa Ododo Women 2027 group at the Government House in Lokoja.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Muhammed Muktar Shuaibu, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, commended the governor’s infrastructure initiatives but drew attention to the deteriorating condition of the Shintaku-Gboloko-Dekina and Odenyi-Oguma roads.

The stakeholders maintained that urgent rehabilitation of the routes would ease transportation, boost trade and agriculture, and improve access between communities in Bassa LGA and Lokoja, the state capital.