The Otokiti Ganaja bypass in the Lokoja area of Kogi state capita has been abandoned three years after the sum of N1billion was allocated to the road construction project.
The road that is meant to reduce time spent by commuters making it easier for them to cut off the Lokoja town while on a journey has since been abandoned.
Worse still, the sum of N1billion has been allocated to the road. And, under the deal, in the year 2017, the Kogi state government through the Ministry of Works, Urban and Housing allocated the sum of N500 million for the road construction. One year after, nothing was done on the project.
However, in the year 2018, the Kogi state government through the same Ministry of Works, Urban and Housing allocated the sum of N500 million to the project, making it a total sum of N1billion.
This is even as, despite the N1billion allocation, the Kogi state government released the sum of N150 million for the road project in the year 2017.
Community residents, who live by the road under construction, narrated how the state government mobilized bulldozers to clear the road of bushes and left and never came back.
Mr. Achile Abel, one of the residents told MAWA Foundation that Otokiti Ganaja bypass is not the only abandoned road in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.
He, however, claims that there are many abandoned road in Lokoja and other parts of the state. He added that the government only comes back to pretend they are doing the road only during an election to deceive the people and get their votes.
MAWA Foundation could not immediately reach out to the Kogi state for a response.
However, a senior government official who did not want his name mentioned, told our officials that in many instances, the state government uses projects as a justification for fund releases while the funds are diverted to private pockets and the intended purpose is forgotten.
Picture Credit: Udeme