Motorists Stranded As Kwara-Kogi Federal Road Deteriorates

Motorists and other road users have been stranded for days on the Obbo-Ille-Eruku-Egbe federal road linking Kwara and Kogi states following the worsening condition of the highway.

The deteriorating road has reportedly left some motorists trapped for days and, in some cases, weeks, according to Egbe Mekun Parrot, a community blog, which shared photographs of the affected sections on Monday.

The development has prompted calls for urgent intervention from the Federal Government and the Kwara State Government to ease the hardship faced by commuters and residents who depend on the road.

Some residents and road users also appealed to lawmakers representing the affected communities to raise the matter at the National Assembly and push for federal intervention.

Responding to the concerns, Francis Nwaze, spokesperson for the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said the Federal Government inherited more than 2,000 roads in deplorable conditions from previous administrations.

Nwaze said the Ministry of Works was currently undertaking maintenance, intervention and reconstruction projects on several roads across the country.

He explained that funding constraints had slowed down some projects, while the rainy season had also contributed to the deterioration of certain roads.

“Some of these things people are talking about may not even be a very long spread but a very short spread that the ongoing reconstruction has not gotten to, or the place has gotten terribly bad because of the season we are in,” he said.

Nwaze assured Nigerians that roads approved by President Bola Tinubu for reconstruction were receiving attention, despite funding challenges affecting the pace of some projects.

He added that the administration was adopting concrete pavement technology for some road projects, which he said was expected to have a lifespan of between 50 and 100 years.

The ministry’s response comes amid growing concerns over the condition of the Kwara-Kogi route, with residents urging authorities to expedite repairs and restore the road to a safe and motorable condition.