By Sar Terver
When the Federal Government declared a state of emergency on the Suleja–Minna Road in late June 2025, residents of Niger State hoped the move would finally bring relief. For years, the road — a vital link between the Federal Capital Territory and Minna, the State Capital — has been a nightmare of potholes, traffic gridlocks, and painfully slow reconstruction.
The government’s pronouncement was supposed to signal urgency, but weeks later, many commuters say the situation has barely changed. Beyond the rhetoric, there has been little in the way of visible progress, trade and investment policies, according to report.
The project’s current dualization effort is not new. It predates the current administration and has been handled in phases over the years. Salini Nigeria Limited, now renamed Webuild, featured prominently as the original contractor on both Phase I (Contract No. 6077) and Phase II (Contract No. 6267).
The section from Diko Junction, on the Abuja–Kaduna Expressway, to Bonu Village covers about 40 kilometres, with twin flyovers planned for Diko and Maje junctions and three river bridges as part of the design.
Under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, the dualization was expanded, with Phase II — from kilometre 40+000 to kilometre 101+000 — awarded to Salini. That contract began in January 2015, just weeks before the change of government.
When President Muhammadu Buhari took over, the project continued, and the then Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, frequently cited inspection visits.
At one point, Phase I was said to be 82 percent complete, while Phase II lagged at 20 percent, slowed by funding constraints.
Despite interventions such as the road infrastructure Tax Credit programme in 2021 and 2022, promised completion dates kept slipping.
By late 2024, the Ministry of Works, David Umahi, publicly criticised contractor performance on several Niger State projects that affects the supply cost contrains and investments.
In November that year, national media reported that the Federal Government had terminated Salini’s contract on the Suleja–Lambata–Minna road over alleged substandard work.
Ministry officials later explained that the recent “state of emergency” was not a full re-award of all segments, but disclosed plans to immediately rehabilitate the worst-hit sections under emergency procurement procedures.
Official communications have alternated between calling it the “Suleja–Minna road (Dualization)” and the “Suleja–Lambata–Minna road,” both referring to the same corridor, divided into phase sub-sections anchored around Diko, Maje, Bonu, and Lambata.
Despite the shifting labels, the core issues remain unresolved. Multiple changes in government, shifting timelines, and alleged funding shortfalls have plagued the project.
Some sources in Minna claim the Federal Government failed to honour the original contractual agreement with Salini, leaving the company underfunded and, eventually, off the site.
The exact terms of the contract, and whether either party fully kept to them, remain unanswered questions.
Residents continue to call for transparency, especially on how much the government paid Salini and how much work the company delivered before its exit.
After Salini’s departure, talk spread that China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) had taken over. But without official confirmation, the true status of the contract remains uncertain.
A Webuild staff member, contacted by phone, declined to give figures or details, saying he was not authorised to speak and suggesting journalists focus on the supposed new contractor instead.
Our reporter also sent an email to Webuild’s director seeking details on payments and work done has gone unanswered. Until clear figures emerge, the financial and contractual realities of the project will remain murky.
For residents, the delays are more than a bureaucratic issue, they carry daily economic and safety costs as well as integration policy and capacity to meet access to domestic demand.
A completed dual carriageway could have made Minna the closest state capital to Abuja, with trips taking just two to three hours. Today, that journey often stretches to four, five, or even six hours, depending on the chosen route.
The extended travel time means higher transportation fares, more vehicle breakdown, and a rising number of road accidents.
Farmers and traders who depend on moving goods to Abuja markets face reduced profits and missed opportunities because of transport delays for impacted rural and urban dwellers.
Some locals believe the government’s emergency declaration was more about optics than actual work.
A Minna-based business man described it as “camera work” meant to impress the public without committing the resources needed for genuine progress.
The Ministry of Works insists that emergency repairs are ongoing on the worst-hit sections. But many along the route say they see little evidence of sustained heavy construction. They want to see asphalt laid, flyovers built, and bridges opened — not just temporary fixes.
Accountability remains a sticking point. Without published Audits showing the exact funds released and the work completed for each payment milestone, it is hard to know whether the delays stem from government lapses, contractor inefficiency, or a mix of both.
There is also widespread frustration over communication. Constantly shifting timelines, contract disputes, and unclear updates have left the public feeling kept in the dark.
For now, the reality is that the Suleja–Minna road remains in poor condition, with no definitive completion date in sight. The much-touted Diko-to-Bonu stretch, with its promised flyovers and bridges, is still far from realisation.
Residents say the government must move beyond declarations to decisive action. An emergency should mean fast-tracked funding, strict contract enforcement, and accountability for both past and present contractors.
Until that happens, the Suleja–Minna corridor will remain a case study in how major infrastructure can be trapped in a cycle of promises, delays, and frustration — leaving the public to pay the price in time, money, and safety.
