Newscenter Media News 
Residents of Gude, Shupe, Atabula and Ome communities in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have expressed frustration over the prolonged abandonment of the road linking their villages, six years after the project was inaugurated by Governor Abdullahi Sule.
DAILY POST reports that the 22-kilometre Gude-Shupe-Atabula-Ome road was flagged off in 2019 during the governor’s first 100 days in office, with assurances that the project would be completed within a short time.
However, the road has remained largely unattended since the initial ceremony.
Speaking in Lafia on Thursday, a youth leader from the area, Pius Akuba, described the situation as disappointing and urged the state government to probe the contractor handling the project to determine why work stalled.
According to Akuba, the poor condition of the road has worsened security challenges in the affected communities, creating fear and uncertainty among residents.
He also criticised claims by some political actors that the road had already been completed, insisting that such assertions were misleading and disconnected from the reality on the ground.
“For more than six years, we have waited patiently for this road to be completed, as promised by the government. Yet, the project has been completely abandoned,” he stated.
“The road is not motorable, not even for motorcycles. We are surprised that some people are telling the governor that the project has been completed when nothing has been done.
“At this point, we don’t even know who the contractor is or whether payments were made for the job. We are appealing directly to Governor Abdullahi Sule to intervene and ensure that the road he personally inaugurated is completed.”
He added that with the rainy season approaching, residents face serious difficulties accessing their farms, workplaces and neighbouring communities whenever it rains.
Another resident, Solomon Joshua, also lamented the deteriorating condition of the road, noting that frequent motorcycle accidents had become a major concern along the route.
Joshua recalled the excitement that greeted the flag-off of the project in 2019 but said the optimism quickly faded after the contractor abandoned the site.
“Shortly after work began, the contractor disappeared, and since then, no worker has returned to the site,” he said.
He further explained that heavy rains in previous years had washed away some of the culverts constructed along the road, exposing communities to environmental risks due to what he described as substandard work.
Joshua appealed to the governor to personally inspect the project, expressing confidence that such a visit would hasten the completion of the road.
“Many people have suffered accidents and sustained injuries because of this road. We are pleading with the state government to come to our rescue,” he added.
Responding to the complaints, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, dismissed claims that the project had been abandoned, explaining that construction was suspended due to technical challenges.
According to him, the issues are currently being addressed by the state government in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and the contractor.
“The road has not been abandoned. There were technical hitches that required a redesign, and discussions are ongoing to resolve them,” Ahemba said.
He assured residents that plans were underway to remobilise the contractor to the site and complete the project, adding that the state government was prepared to settle the outstanding contract sum.
“We appeal to the people to remain patient. Arrangements are in top gear to ensure that work resumes and the road is completed as soon as possible,” he stated.
Nasarawa communities decry abandonment of road six years after flag-off