Despite the Federal Government’s approval of ₦4.2 trillion for dilapidated roads, Nigeria’s roads remain death traps littered with potholes.
The senate has urged the federal government to prioritise the rehabilitation of the nation’s deteriorating road infrastructure.
This is as it urged the government to emphasise the necessity of extending the renewed hope super Highway road project to the north-east region to ensure its full integration into the country’s economic activities.
These resolutions were adopted during Thursday’s plenary following a motion concerning the federal government’s approval of ₦4.2 trillion for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar road and other significant highways and bridges nationwide.
Coming under a matter of urgent importance, Sen. Danjuma Goje (PDP, Gombe central) highlighted that this substantial investment, approved during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on February 3, 2025, aims to address the deplorable state of federal road networks and aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy to revitalise road infrastructure for enhanced socio-economic development.
Sen. Goje provided a breakdown of the approved projects, which include:
•Lagos-Calabar highway
•Delta state access road
•Anambra state access road
•Lagos-Ibadan expressway
•Auchi road -Edo section
•Benin airport area section
•Third mainland bridge
•Ado Ekiti-Igede road project
•Onitsha-Owerri expressway
•Abia & Enugu states road projects
•Odukpani junction-Apeti central section of Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja road
•Abeokuta-Ajibo road-Iyanan Mosa road in Ogun state
•Adulu-Ajibu road in Anambra state
•Umuahia-Ikuano-Ikot-Ekpene Road
•Umuahia-Umudike road
•Ijebu-Igbotita in Ogun state
•Lokoja-Benin road
•Musasa-Jos route
•Agaya Kachia-Baro road in Niger state
•Yola-Fufore-Gurin road in Adamawa state
•Karim Lamido road in Taraba state
However, Sen. Goje expressed concern that the north-east region was allocated only two projects: the Yola-Fufore-Gurin road in Adamawa State (₦11.81 billion) and the Lamido road in Taraba state (₦7.68 billion), out of the total ₦4.2 trillion. He emphasised the dire need for reconstruction and rehabilitation of other critical road networks in the north-east, such as:
•Bauchi-Gombe road
•Biu-Gombe road
•Potiskum-Gombe road
•Darazo-Gombe road
•Numan-Jalingo road
•Yola-Mubi road
• Yola-Michika-Madagali-Gwoza-Bama road
•Ngorore-Mayo Belwa-Zin-Jalingo
•Mayo Belwa-Jada-Ganye
•Biu-Gombi-Maranraba
•Biu-Damboa-Maiduguri
•Biu-Damaturu
He noted that the north-east is the only zone not connected to the super highway project initiated by the current administration.
Sen. Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi east) emphasised that road construction should be part of a comprehensive multi-year programme. He suggested that the ministry of works identify all roads in deplorable conditions and develop a four to five-year plan to ensure timely construction, preventing any region from feeling marginalised. He remarked, “If that had been done, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
On her part, Sen. Idiat Oluranti (APC, Lagos west) expressed concern over the poor state of roads in Lagos state, particularly the Lagos-Badagary road, which commenced construction around 2023 and remains incomplete.
“Lagos Badagry road was commenced around 2023. Up until now, Lagos Badagary road has not been completed,” she lamented.
Impact of poor roads on Nigeria’s economy
As of 2024, Nigeria’s road infrastructure remains a significant concern, with many routes in deplorable conditions. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a total of 2,662 road traffic crashes in the first quarter of 2024, a slight decrease from the previous quarter’s 2,717 incidents. This downward trend continued into the second quarter, with 2,404 crashes recorded, marking a 9.69 percent decline from Q1 2024 and an 18.98 perent reduction compared to Q2 2023.
Despite these improvements, the frequency of road accidents remains alarmingly high, underscoring the persistent challenges in road safety and infrastructure quality. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) noted a 12.8 percent reduction in road traffic crashes between January and October 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
Nigeria’s extensive road network, spanning approximately 108,000 kilometers of paved roads, is the largest in West Africa. The federal government is responsible for constructing and maintaining 32,000 kilometers of this network. However, many of these roads are in poor condition, contributing to the high rate of accidents.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that Africa accounts for 19 percnt of global road traffic deaths, despite having only 15 percent of the world’s population and 3 percent of the global vehicle fleet. In Nigeria, the WHO estimates approximately 40,000 road traffic fatalities annually, significantly higher than official reports, indicating that many accidents go unreported.
The chairman of the senate committee on appropriations, Sen. Solomon Olamilekan (APC, Ogun west) clarified that the ₦4.2 trillion allocated for coastal road projects was not distributed based on geopolitical zone.
“The N4.2 trillion coastal road projects strictly covers the Badagary-Sokoto and Lagos-Calabar Coastal roads .
“For the existing road projects across the country, Mr President has set aside N500 billion for continued rehabilitation work without exclusion of any zone.”
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, emphasised the urgent need for a comprehensive roadmap for continuous road maintenance and rehabilitation, stating that without it, Nigeria’s road infrastructure crisis will persist.
He added that if past administrations had implemented bold initiatives like those of the current government, the nation’s road network would not be in its current dire state.
