Residents from the Lafia Local Government Area in Nasarawa State rejoiced in 2017 when the government announced the awarding of contracts for the construction of a six-kilometer road linking Lafia, Agyaragun, and Tofa. Fast forward eight years, the project remains incomplete, creating significant challenges for the communities in terms of access to markets, educational institutions, and medical facilities.
During visits to the site in 2024 and again in November 2025, PREMIUM TIMES encountered Iliya Musa, a resident of Agyaragun, who was attempting to fill potholes with sand alongside his seven-year-old son. Despite occasionally receiving small tokens of gratitude from passing motorists, he remarked that his motivation stemmed from the frequent accidents and armed robberies occurring along the poorly maintained road.
Mr. Musa noted, "You cannot pass this road when it rains. I have been filling potholes myself so that people can reach the market."
Other community members expressed their grievances about the issues stemming from the unfinished road project, particularly the delays they face in accessing the Lafia Teaching Hospital during the rainy season.
Numerous accidents and even reported kidnappings along this route have also raised alarm among residents. Mr. Musa recounted a tragic incident involving a collision between a car and a truck, which resulted in two fatalities.
In 2016, the state government allocated ₦200 million for the road project under the auspices of the Ministry of Works, Housing, and Transport, followed by an additional ₦120 million in 2017, resulting in a total initial budget of ₦320 million.
However, an investigation into the budget and contract payments revealed discrepancies. The contract for the road was officially awarded to Certified Engineering Ltd on July 2, 2018, with a contract sum of ₦865.7 million (₦865,750,400).
Records show that the final payment of ₦155,835,072 was made to the contractor in 2020, reaching the total contract sum. Nonetheless, the government’s official arrears portal still indicates the entire ₦865,750,400 contract amount as outstanding, raising concerns about either unrecorded prior payments or persistent debt.
Concerns over the contractor's legitimacy have emerged, as Certified Engineering Ltd, registered in Kaduna, is marked as inactive on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) database due to failure to file mandatory annual returns, according to information provided by a CAC official to PREMIUM TIMES.
The official stated, "They are yet to pay their annual returns, which is why it is showing inactive on the CAC’s portal," while confirming reports of potential de-listing for non-compliance.
The company's public records provided no functional contact information, and a physical exploration of its claimed Kaduna headquarters yielded no evidence of its presence.
Residents of Agyaragun have persistently urged the state to finalize the stalled road project, highlighting the detrimental effects on local commerce and transportation, particularly during the rain. The district head of Agyaragun mentioned that despite multiple engagements with Governor Abdullahi Sule, including a meeting in December 2025, no progress has been achieved on the road's completion.
For the community, the road's abandonment translates to a daily struggle impacting their access to essential services. They remain hopeful that their persistent efforts will prompt governmental action.
Regarding government responses, the Nasarawa State Urban Development Board, responsible for project oversight, did not respond to inquiries about the contract’s current status. However, an anonymous official informed PREMIUM TIMES that the state has included funding for the road project in the 2026 budget, assuring residents that construction will proceed to benefit the community.
The official elaborated that the project, which originated under former Governor Tanko Al-Makura, faced interruptions. Although the contract was re- awarded in 2019, the fairness of the original bidding process has not been addressed publicly.
The inclusion in the 2026 budget offers a glimmer of hope for residents of Agyaragun, although many yearn for tangible progress before they finally acknowledge the government’s commitment to rectifying the issue.
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