In this special report, LINUS OOTA highlights the deplorable road conditions that have plagued Nasarawa State, turning its thoroughfares into dreaded corridors of horror and death traps. For years, commuters have faced treacherous journeys, with dilapidated roads posing significant dangers. However, the tide is beginning to turn as comprehensive efforts are now underway to overhaul these perilous roadways, transforming them from hazardous passages into safe, reliable routes to alleviate the longstanding dangers faced by commuters
Nasarawa State, established on October 1, 1996, alongside Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Zamfara, Gombe, and Ekiti, stands as a testament to Nigeria’s rich diversity and potential. Known for its abundant solid mineral deposits, Nasarawa’s true economic backbone is its thriving agricultural sector, which supports over 85 percent of the population. In every corner of Nasarawa, the hard work and dedication of its people are evident. From the yam heaps in Assakio and other communities in Obi, Keana, Awe, Doma, Nasarawa Eggon, Wamba, and Toto LGAs to the towering pyramids of melon and sesame bags in Mararaba Udege, Nasarawa, and Keffi LGAs, agriculture is a way of life. The industrious spirit of the Nasarawa people is palpable, driving the state’s economy and ensuring its sustainability.
However, despite their tireless efforts, many rural inhabitants live in near abject poverty, deprived of essential infrastructure such as hospitals, roads, schools, and markets. Years of neglect had left these communities struggling, with poor road conditions being a significant barrier to development. When Governor Abdullahi Sule took office as the fourth democratically elected governor five years ago, he faced the daunting task of addressing these infrastructural deficits, because Nasarawa had one of the worst rural road networks in Nigeria, a situation that posed severe risks to lives and properties and hindered economic growth. The poor state of the roads was more than just a source of embarrassment; it was a chronic issue that led to early and unnecessary deaths and stunted the state’s economic potential.
Inadequate roads created a critical bottleneck for Nasarawa’s economic development. The impact was widespread, increasing transportation costs, stifling productivity, and constraining growth opportunities. For a state heavily reliant on agriculture, poor road infrastructure made it difficult for farmers to transport their produce to markets, thus hindering their ability to earn a sustainable income. For an economy heavily reliant on agriculture, this meant farmers struggled to transport their produce to markets, thus limiting their income and stifling economic progress.
Governor Sule’s administration has focused on improving this infrastructure, marking the beginning of a transformative journey for Nasarawa. These efforts are not only enhancing the quality of life for the state’s residents but also paving the way for sustainable development and economic growth. Nasarawa’s journey towards modernisation and prosperity is ongoing, with infrastructure improvements playing a pivotal role. As the state continues to develop, the hope is that better roads, schools, and hospitals will provide a brighter future for all its residents, transforming Nasarawa into a model of progress and sustainability.
Nasarawa, a state plagued by rampant insecurity, has seen a significant number of its farmers driven away from their farmlands. Insurgents and kidnappers have forced many potential farmers to abandon their livelihoods, while those who remain face the daunting challenge of bad roads, hindering their access to markets where eager customers await. With the onset of the rainy season, the plight of farmers worsens. Households relying on farm produce for consumption find these goods increasingly out of reach due to higher transportation costs. The poor condition of roads exacerbates the situation, placing these essential items beyond the financial grasp of many.
Before Governor Sule’s administration, Nasarawa’s farmlands were overrun by violent herdsmen. These armed groups occupied vast swathes of farmland, destroying crops and leaving devastation in their wake. Equipped with sophisticated weapons, the herdsmen outmatched the ordinary farmers, who were left defenseless. The lack of access roads compounded the issue, making it nearly impossible for security forces to respond promptly. As a result, many farmers had no choice but to abandon their farms and livelihoods. From Lafia, Awe, Doma, Obi, and Keana LGAs in the southern part of the state, to Toto, Nasarawa, Keffi, Karu, and Kokona LGAs in the west, and Akwanga, Nasarawa Eggon, and Wamba LGAs in the north, deplorable roads wreaked havoc on farmers and their produce. Small-scale businesses and other economic activities, which rely on road infrastructure, suffered immensely.
No matter where one assessed the conditions of Nasarawa’s rural roads in the past, the stories were uniformly grim, a litany of woes and hardships. From the onset of his administration, Governor Sule had a clear vision for addressing the challenges of rural development in the state. Central to his strategy was the provision of necessary infrastructure for the rural populace. The state government has aggressively tackled the concerns about the deplorable state of rural roads, believing that improving these critical pathways is essential for revitalising Nasarawa’s agricultural sector and overall economic health.
There is no contesting the fact that an effective transport system, which facilitates the easy movement of people and goods, plays a central role in economic development. A fundamental way to boost transportation and, ultimately, aid the movement of goods and persons from hinterlands to markets is through the availability of a robust road network that connects different communities. Nasarawa is not just a rural state; it is an agrarian state where most of its natives are deeply engaged in farming as the mainstay of their economy and source of livelihood. To ease the movement of their farm produce from the farms to the market, good roads are essential.
Upon assuming office, Governor Sule embraced a sustainable development strategy and has not relented in his efforts to improve the lives of rural dwellers across the state. Through deliberate policy thrusts and initiatives, his administration aims to bring succor and hope to grassroots communities and rejuvenate the economic activities of rural farmers and dwellers. During his inaugural speech about five years ago, he pledged to prioritise the provision of basic infrastructure. Today, he is rewriting the history of Nasarawa State with remarkable achievements, particularly in the area of rural road construction.
To fulfill his commitment to rural development, the state established the Nasarawa State Bureau for Rural Development. This agency is tasked with overseeing rural road projects among other vital responsibilities. As the Chinese proverb states, “development follows roads.” Road construction plays a fundamental role in enhancing the livelihoods of rural populations by boosting the socio-economic activities of communities that were previously sidelined. The bureau was established to take over the responsibilities of the former task force handling the construction and maintenance of rural feeder roads across the state. Its other responsibilities include managing all rural roads, ensuring electricity supply, and providing water to rural areas.
Nasarawa’s extensive road network is crucial for connecting communities and facilitating the transport of agricultural products. This infrastructure not only supports the economic vitality of the state but also improves the quality of life for its residents, ensuring that the fruits of their labor reach the markets efficiently. Governor Sule’s vision and efforts are paving the way for a brighter future for Nasarawa. The state’s ongoing improvements in road infrastructure are a testament to the administration’s dedication to fostering growth and development in every corner of Nasarawa. Through these initiatives, the state is gradually overcoming its challenges and moving towards a more prosperous and connected future.
The Bureau for Rural Development has significantly improved infrastructure in rural communities by taking over the maintenance of feeder roads, water supply, and electrification. Consequently, many previously inaccessible areas now enjoy better connectivity and essential services. In the past five years, the Bureau upgraded over 1,000 km of rural roads across the state. Notable projects nearing completion include the 17 km Andaha-Rinze road in Akwanga Local Government (90% complete), the 27 km Kofar Gwari-Bakin Ayeni road in Kokona Local Government, and the 15 km Keana-Abuni road in Awe and Keana Local Governments. Completed and commissioned roads include the 10 km Shabu-Doka-Anigba-Akakyo road, the 21 km Agwade-Shupe-Atabula-Obi road, the 27.9 km Kanje-Abuni road, the 6 km Kagbu-Atsoko-Kagbu Wana road, the 5 km Masaka-Luvu road, the 16 km Mama-Farin Ruwa road, the 14 km Nasarawa-Ara road, the 12 km Ribi-Jangwa road, the 27 km Assakio-Obi road, the 54 km Angoro Junction/Bassa road, the 1 km Gudi-Anguwan Dorawa road, and the 19 km Baure Grazing Reserve road.
Additional rural road projects, either completed or ongoing, include the 2.2 km Akurba power substation road, the 3 km Sabon Garin Salawo/Tudun Wada road in Keffi, the 3 km Kaibo Fulani-Kaibo Mada road, the 16.9 km Kofan Gwari-Bakin Ayeni-Amba road, the 13 km Rinze-Ngare-Ancho-Babba-Andaha road, and the 5 km Alushi/Wakama road. These road projects have significantly eased the transportation of farm produce to markets, benefiting the agricultural sector, which contributes over 23% to the nation’s GDP and employs more than 34% of Nigeria’s workforce. Improved road networks help farmers reduce post-harvest losses of perishable goods.
The industrial sector also benefits from enhanced road infrastructure, facilitating smoother transport between production sites and consumption points. One notable aspect of Governor Sule’s administration in Nasarawa State is the prudence and strategic planning applied to infrastructure projects. He ensures that these projects achieve significant impact, are cost-effective, and provide extensive benefits to the communities.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on political matters, Kassim Mohammed told our correspondent in his assessment that Governor Sule has constructed several roads that linked several communities across the state, stressing that the Governor has done well in road construction. Most of the rural roads, he noted, were asphalted for the first time in their history and opened the rural areas and helped rural farmers to move their farm produce to the cities. The current administration, according to the former member of the State House of Assembly has done well in the area of road construction, especially in the rural areas of the state. Virtually all the communities in the state have one or more rural roads to point at; it was a deliberate decision to transform the life of our rural people.
He explained that it was a deliberate policy if the current administration to open up the rural areas with good roads “The state of our roads before was such that people had nightmares when they think of travelling; the past administration of Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura did his best but the roads were failing. Our roads under Engr Sule are the best you can get within any state in the country. Goods and services are easily moved from place to place thus increasing commercial and social activities resulting in greater profitability and brighter economic gains for the entire state,” he said.
According to him, the state government’s intention is to link many rural agrarian communities to the urban cities to enable them evacuate their farm produce to the urban cities. He explained that roads construction was designed to make rural dwellers comfortable and open rural communities for development, adding that for the residents to still have hope in government, there was the need to extend roads construction beyond the cities. The Governor attributed the spate of rural urban migration to lack of roads and other basic amenities needed to make life comfortable, as such projects will not only address insecurity, but will equally improve access to school, enable evacuating of farm produce to the market and boost economic activities.
Speaking to our correspondent, the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Mu’azu Gosho said one of the main focus of the current administration’s industrialisation agenda is to ensure that the ruralites in Nasarawa are not left out in the development efforts of the state government. He noted that over the years, the people of the state, especially those in the rural areas have been denied of the basic social amenities that government should prioritize which is access to good road network. According to him, “From the inception of this administration, the Governor made deliberate efforts to put in place several life changing programmes and projects geared towards improving the livelihood and living standard of our teeming farming population. It was his resolve that the government needed to do more in the rural areas of Nasarawa State and I’m glad that he is walking the talk.”
