The appeal was contained in an open letter issued by the Nindiji Nupe Development Association (NNDA), formerly known as the Bassa-Nge Development Union, on behalf of community development organisations, traditional title holders and other stakeholders in the area.
The groups said the road’s condition had made transportation increasingly difficult, affecting the movement of residents, farm produce, commercial goods and people seeking essential services. They warned that continued neglect could further isolate communities that depend on the route to reach markets, schools and healthcare facilities.
The letter was signed by NNDA National President, Barrister Abdulaleem Haruna, and the association’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Nda Yakubu. Other signatories included Bassa-Nge Community Development Network Board of Trustees Chairman, Engineer James Akale, and Engineer Usman Nda Mohammed of the Council of Traditional Title Holders.
According to the associations, the road is an important link for farming and trading communities whose livelihoods depend on reliable transportation. They argued that its poor condition has consequences beyond daily movement, affecting local economic activity and residents’ access to public services.
The groups also expressed concern about the implications for the 2027 elections. They noted that some registered voters from the affected communities live or work outside the area and would ordinarily travel home to exercise their franchise.
They warned that a severely degraded road could discourage or prevent some residents from returning to their communities to vote. The condition could also complicate the movement of electoral officials, election materials, security personnel and observers, potentially creating logistical difficulties on election day.
The associations stressed that access to polling communities should be considered part of the broader effort to ensure inclusive electoral participation. They therefore urged the relevant authorities to act before the election period rather than leave residents facing transportation difficulties when voting begins.
The letter acknowledged the competing infrastructure demands facing both levels of government but maintained that an immediate, practical intervention was possible without waiting for complete reconstruction.
The communities recalled that the broader Lokoja–Shintaku–Dekina–Anyigba federal road project was awarded in 2022 to TEC Engineering Company. The Federal Government subsequently ordered the termination of the contract in 2025 after official records showed that only 1.04 per cent of the work had been completed. The associations said the prolonged delay had left residents bearing the consequences of inadequate road access.
Rather than demand that the entire road be reconstructed before the elections, the groups proposed emergency repairs aimed at restoring reasonable motorability. Their recommendations include a technical inspection, grading and reshaping damaged sections, compacting the road surface, replacing weak areas with suitable materials and applying an appropriate surface treatment where engineers consider it necessary.
The associations argued that such work could provide temporary relief while the authorities consider a more permanent rehabilitation plan. They emphasised that the immediate priority was to restore access for residents, traders, farmers and other road users.
In their appeal to Governor Ododo, the groups called for an immediate inspection by the relevant state ministry, agency or technical team to determine which sections could be repaired quickly. They said the state government should consider an emergency intervention while continuing discussions with federal authorities over the broader road project.
The associations also urged Umahi to explore lawful options for federal support, including collaboration with the Kogi State Government or referral to the appropriate federal agency. They argued that cooperation between the two levels of government would help address the prolonged infrastructure problem.
Tinubu was similarly asked to use his office to encourage a timely response, with the groups saying that rural communities should benefit from infrastructure investment that connects them to farms, markets, schools, hospitals and polling centres.
The appeal comes amid wider concerns over road infrastructure in Bassa Local Government Area. In July 2026, Governor Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving roads in the area, including the state’s engagement with the Federal Ministry of Works over the Shintaku–Gboloko–Dekina federal road project. The governor also pledged to begin work on the Odenyi–Oguma Road after the rainy season.
The latest appeal, however, focuses on an immediate need: making the affected route sufficiently accessible before the next general elections. The communities maintain that promises of future reconstruction would not address the difficulties residents face today.
For the affected residents, the outcome will depend on whether the relevant authorities can agree on responsibility, carry out a technical assessment and mobilise resources for timely repairs. Until then, the condition of the road remains a concern for transportation, economic activity and electoral access across the communities it serves.
Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia
Reader Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your perspective on this report.