Senate Earmarks Anyigba–Dekina–Shintaku Road for Inclusion in Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund

By Ugbede James Ankpa

The Senate, at its plenary on Wednesday, resolved to include the Anyigba–Dekina–Shintaku road in Kogi East in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund projects.

This resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Isah Jibrin (Kogi East), who noted that the Anyigba–Dekina–Shintaku road, a federal route, serves as a crucial transportation link connecting communities in Kogi East to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, Abuja, as well as the Southeast and South-South regions.

Senator Jibrin expressed concern over the deplorable condition of the road, which has forced commuters to use the longer Lokoja–Ajaokuta–Anyigba route.

He recalled that in the 1980s, when the road was in good condition, the journey took about 40 minutes, but due to its current state, it now takes more than four hours.

The lawmaker further noted that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its meeting on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, had approved the reconstruction of the road. The then Federal Ministry of Works and Housing awarded the contract to Tech Engineering Company Nigeria Limited on February 3, 2022. However, the contract was later revoked due to delays in execution and has yet to be re-awarded.

Senator Jibrin emphasized that the Federal Government’s innovative financing mechanisms—such as Sukuk bonds—have proven effective in funding key infrastructure projects nationwide and could serve as a viable model for completing the Anyigba–Dekina–Shintaku road.

Consequently, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Works to consider utilizing a special-purpose fund for the road’s completion.

In addition, the Senate called on the Ministry to install toll gates at both ends of the road after completion to generate revenue for recovering construction costs and ensuring adequate maintenance.

The Senate Chief Whip, who also serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, proposed the inclusion of the Anyigba–Dekina–Shintaku road in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund projects — a suggestion that was unanimously adopted by all members present.