Abuja-Keffi expressway in crisis: Daily gridlock highlights decades of neglect

By Emmanuel Yashim

Once considered a vital gateway to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Abuja Nyanya Keffi highway has now become a symbol of neglect, inefficiency, and hardship.

For many years, the road has been the subject of fierce complaints, public outcry, and frustration from the commuting public, civil servants, legal authorities, and community groups.

Many Nigerians have raised concerns about the situation on that stretch, discussing what has been done – or not done so far.

Vincent Adodo, a human rights lawyer, has repeatedly written to FERMA (Federal Roads Maintenance Agency) demanding urgent repair of failed portions of the expressway, especially between Nyanya Checkpoint/Abacha Road.

He described these stretches as having “inflicted untold suffering” on commuters forced to endure long traffic jams and unsafe driving conditions.

Following court threats by Adodo, the Ministry of Works awarded a rehabilitation contract to China Harbour Engineering Co., Nigeria Ltd. to restore the road.

The Road Users Development Network of Nigeria sharply criticised the Minister of Works and Housing for what it considers abandonment of the “ever-busy federal road”.

The network argues that the condition of parts of the stretch, especially the AYA Mararaba part, is “an embarrassment to government”, and that where the road should take 20 minutes in peak hours, it now takes more than two hours.

Other road users complain that bad spots, especially around Kugbo, Karu Bridge, Nyanya, are sources of frequent accidents and damage to vehicles. Potholes, craters, badly eroded shoulders, and a lack of proper signage are commonly cited.

FERMA acknowledges the need for construction/bridge works, particularly in heavily eroded zones, but has been criticised for commencing repairs or blockade without proper notice or provision for alternative routes, aggravating traffic congestion.

For example, at Mararaba (“Sharp Corner”), a section was cut off without an alternative bypass. Road users have been left stranded every morning, with fares rising sharply, and some have abandoned their vehicles.

The FCT Administration (traffic management) has appealed to the Federal Ministry of Works to fix the potholes on the AYA Kugbo Nyanya stretch, highlighting hazardous portions around the Kugbo slope descending towards the Karu Site Bridge.

The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has given the contractor (China Harbour Engineering Company, CHEC) a 14-day ultimatum to show appreciable progress on the Abuja Keffi section, citing that only about 8.7 per cent of the work had been completed even after mobilisation funds had been released.

The ordeal is a daily occurrence as people spend hours stuck in traffic jams that should not be, spend unreasonable time travelling, and experience physical discomfort.

The morning hours are especially terrible.

This is apart from the cost implications of vehicle damage, fuel wastage, and lost hours of work.

Also, when parts of the road are blocked, fare hikes by commercial motorcycles (okada) occur, often to exploit the situation.

The safety risks, according to Mr Samson Zom, are another set of disturbing elements.

Accidents are frequent, especially around failed road sections; erosion and failed shoulders cause vehicles (especially heavy ones) to lose control.

Commuters worry about tankers or trailers falling or skidding.

A cross-section of commuters identified a number of problems with the stretch.

First, there is poor road maintenance, which has led to the emergence of potholes, failed pavement, washed‐away sections, and deteriorated shoulders.

Second, there is slow or uncoordinated rehabilitation, with contractors failing to meet timelines; this has led to a prolonged period of construction without alternative routes provided for the road users, with the resulting delays even when mobilisation funds have been released.

Third, stakeholders identified the lack of communication/traffic planning as little or no notice is given to road users when major works begin, with the absence of detours or traffic management during construction.

Structural damage from erosion: Some sections require bridge or erosion control work. Heavy rains worsen the situation, making roads impassable in places.

Traffic congestion: Bottlenecks caused by damaged road sections, accidents, fallen debris or trailers, combined with a high volume of commuters.

Unfair cost burden on road users: Not just in longer travel times and fuel costs, but also in damage to vehicles, and inflated fares when okadas are forced into service.

Public safety concerns: Accidents, hazardous sections; risk to pedestrians, risk especially during the rainy season or at night.

A rehabilitation contract was awarded to China Harbour Engineering Co., Nigeria Ltd., for the expressway after legal threats.

Ultimatums were issued by the Minister of Works to contractors to improve the Abuja Keffi section.

Appeals were made from FCT Administration to the Federal Ministry to address failed portions.

Demolition or clearance of illegal structures occupying road margins were carried out to restore lanes or improve traffic.

In spite of these efforts, many stakeholders believe the response is still inadequate.

Contractors are seen to have underperformed or delayed; for example, only 8.7 per cent completion despite exceedingly almost half of the timeline.

Even sections supposedly under expansion are not being maintained during construction, meaning the currently usable carriageway continues to deteriorate.

Road users complain that temporary fixes fail quickly, especially with rain; maintenance appears superficial rather than durable.

Stakeholders believe there is a lack of transparency; they question where funds are utilised and why delays persist.

They have also criticised disruption from construction without prior notice and without provision of alternative routes, saying that these cause gridlocks and hardship for people. Loss of time (productivity), increased fuel consumption, and vehicle maintenance costs.

Markets and trades that rely on timely transport suffer. Malam Shamsudeen Abubakar, a health personnel resident in Nyanya, told NAN that accidents, exposure to dust, and the risks associated with inclement weather cause stress and fatigue for commuters.

According to him, all these cause frustration and higher stress levels among commuters and other road users.

Observers say there is need for immediate and durable repairs on the failed portions (especially the Nyanya/Abacha Road axis, Kugbo slope, and Karu Bridge zones).

They call for timely completion of contracted works by CHEC or other contractors, with oversight and enforcement where performance falls short.

“Better planning: notice to road users, provision of detours, traffic control during works.

“Improved drainage and erosion control to ensure sections do not wash away or become impassable after rain.

“Better accountability and transparency from agencies (FERMA, Ministry of Works).

“Safety enhancements: proper signage, lighting, especially at night, shoulders restored, safer carriageways.

“Responsiveness from government officials to take responsibility; some have called for resignations over perceived negligence,’’ an observer said.

Mr Joseph Barthalomew, a resident of Ado, said the Abuja Keffi Road was more than just a transport artery as it provided a lifeline for thousands of workers, businesses, market activities, and border communities between the Federal Capital and neighbouring states.

“Yet its current state amounts to daily hardship for commuters, economic inefficiencies, and a safety risk.

“The gap between promises and delivery remains wide; if government agencies and contractors do not accelerate action, the public’s patience (and trust) might run out,” he said.

Mrs Theresa Bodam, a resident of Maraba, voiced out her despair.

“We were all excited when the expansion of the road was initiated, thinking it would ease our stress.

“Unfortunately, you can see what we are going through this morning,” he said.

A resident of Karu Site (who asked not to be named) lamented that even with the road expansion works, gridlock remains.

“The distance between Mararaba and Central Area in the FCT on a good day is about 15 minutes, but we spend as much as two hours on the road sometimes.

“It is so stressful; but most people do not have a choice but to remain in the area because accommodation is more affordable here than in the city centre.

“Nothing really causes the gridlock.

“For instance, I have called some of my friends who went out earlier than I this morning, and they do not seem to know what is causing the gridlock.

“This leads to loss of man-hours and disrupts one’s plans most times,” he said.

Experts say, to tackle the perennial gridlock along Abuja-Keffi expressway, there must be a strong political will from both the Federal Government and the Nasarawa State Government to expand the road and remove illegal structures.

They say construction of flyovers and ring roads can also go a long way in decongesting the road