Infrastructural projects worth billions of naira have been abandoned by past and current governors in 29 of Nigeria’s 36 states.
Some of the uncompleted projects were initiated by the governors when Nigeria returned to full-blown democracy in 1999 while the rest were kicked off by the succeeding governments who never executed them.
Others were even commissioned when partially executed, but after the flamboyant ceremonies, the initiators forgot about them.
Sadly, instead of continuing with them, their successors began their own projects, which were also abandoned.
LEADERSHIP Sunday’s investigation in 29 states of the federation showed that an average of 270 projects were abandoned in each state from post-1999 to the present.
A zonal breakdown of the projects showed that the South-South geo-political zone topped the abandoned project chart with 114, with Akwa Ibom State leading with 87 projects.
It was learnt that Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno had so far injected N47.93 billion into 36 of the inherited Finance and General Purpose Committee (FGPC) projects, and N4.04 billion into 51 of the Emergency Intervention Projects (EIPs) he inherited from the immediate past administration, for a total of N51.96 billion.
The North West zone trails with 44 projects, of which Zamfara State alone has 33 uncompleted projects.
The South East region comes next with 40 projects, and Imo State comes top with 28. The Rochas Okorocha administration reportedly flagged off most of the projects, mostly hospitals.
The South West region has 34 abandoned projects, with Ogun State leading with 23.
The North Central zone comes fourth with 33 projects with Plateau State accounting for 22 of them. The N29 billion infrastructural legacy projects were initiated by former Governor Simon Lalong during his second tenure in office and were abandoned due to litigation.
The North East region has the least number of 5 uncompleted projects in the country. Gombe and Taraba States each have two failed projects,
A further breakdown showed that the Katsina State government is yet to complete the Katsina Windmill Farm Project, which was initiated in 2005 by the late governor and President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
The federal government took over the project in 2007 and abandoned it.
Since then, the project, designed to generate 10 megawatts of electricity, has suffered multiple delays and remains non-functional despite the millions of naira spent on it.
Also, the Ingawa-Dallaje Dam Project, a federal initiative valued at N4.3 billion, was meant to provide water, irrigation facilities, and electricity to several communities. However, despite over half of the contract sum disbursed, the contractor abandoned the site over two years ago.
In Kaita local government area, an uncompleted hospital project dating back to the Yar’Adua administration remains in ruins.
Another project, the dualisation of the Katsina-Kano Road has not been completed. While the project progressed from Kano to Gidan Mutum-Daya, the portion within Katsina State was abandoned due to disputes over compensation for affected residents.
In Sokoto State, the sprawling Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital Complex in Wamakko local government area and the modern stadium complex with indoor sports hall in the Dange-Shuni area are two notable projects started by the last administration of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal but not completed.
Though construction works started on the teaching hospital complex and stadium in 2021 and 2022 respectively, and had reached advanced stages prior to the exit of the last administration, the two projects are currently abandoned.
A government source who preferred anonymity told our correspondent that, aside from the projects not being on the current administration’s priority lists, the contract terms need to be revisited to see whether the level of work done is commensurate with the payment to the contractors.
A cross-section of residents within the Kasarawa area, adjoining the two projects, appealed to the present administration to resuscitate them.
In Gombe State, two projects initiated by former Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo have been abandoned by the current administration under Governor Inuwa Yahaya.
The projects are the Rainbow Amusement Park near the popular Rainbow Roundabout in the capital city and the traffic circle (roundabout) at Tashar Dukku, both of which had been uncompleted for over six years.
In Taraba State, several projects have been abandoned, including the Maraban Baisa-Kurmi Road, initiated by the late Governor Danbaba Suntai, and the Jalingo Water Works, started by Governor Darius Ishaku. Despite being commissioned, successive administrations did not complete these projects. Ishaku’s multi-billion Ishaku Garden Estate also remains unfinished.
The 2.8km Shafa Roundabout-Sango-Old Airport Road project, begun four years ago, has seen little progress since January 2023, leaving residents frustrated. Additionally, Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri’s 2021 road construction project, awarded at N4.8 billion, has stalled after partial drainage work.
In Zamfara, abandoned projects include health, power, and road developments in 14 local government areas, with electrification projects uncompleted in several councils. The Farida Hospital and key road projects such as the Gusau-Yelwa Samaru and Kucheri-Bilbis-Danjibga roads have been abandoned, causing community complaints.
Kaduna’s Sabon Tasha by Television Garage Road, initiated by former Governor El-Rufai, remains uncompleted, leaving residents urging Governor Uba Sani to finish it.
Kebbi has four abandoned projects, including the Kebbi State Polytechnic and NYSC permanent site in Dakingari, while Plateau’s N29 billion infrastructure legacy projects from former Governor Lalong have stalled due to litigation.
In Niger State, key roads such as the Minna-Sarikin Pawa-Kaduna and Katcha-Agaie-Baro roads, initiated by former Presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan, are still unfinished. The Mokwa-Bokani-Tegina-Birni Gera Road, also launched by Jonathan, has not been executed.
The people of Isanlu-Isin in Kwara South have also voiced concerns over the abandonment of the 11km Oke Onigbin-Isanlu Isin Road.
LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that the project was awarded by the administration of the late Governor Mohammed Lawal (1999-2003) but was not fully executed.
A community leader in Isanlu-Isin, Chief Joshua Oloyede, appealed to the Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to prioritise the completion of the road.
Successive governments in Kogi State have not completed the Kogi Hotels and the Confluence Beach Hotel projects.
Aside from the government of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris which attempted to revive it, the structure is dilapidated.
The Kogi Hotel, located at the Government House, Lokoja, has also been abandoned.
In Benue State, the abandoned projects are the Makurdi Cargo Air Port worth over N38 billion, constructed by the immediate past government of Governor Samuel Ortom; the Tomatoes Factory in Wannune, Tarka LGA which the government of George Akume initiated; the Yam Processing Factory, initiated by the government of Gabriel; the 121 kilometres Alaide Mabkine- Obarike -Ito Road started by the immediate past government of Ortom and abandoned midway.
The projects abandoned in Osun State are the federal government-owned Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill Company and Nigeria Machine Tools Factory, Osogbo, while Cocoa Processing Factory Ede, Five Star Hotel, Osogbo and Osun State Pharmaceutical Company, Osogbo, were owned by the state government.
A community leader in Osogbo, Alhaji Rasaq Remi Adejumobis, lamented the reckless abandonment of the projects despite the huge investment committed to them, adding that their completion would have impacted the public regarding the provision of employment and other services.
Many abandoned projects in Ondo State, especially roads initiated by the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, include the dualisation of Ijoka Road, the overhead bridge at Onyearugbulem Market, the dualisation of Oda Road, and various internal roads across the state. Subsequent administrations have also left the Owena Multipurpose Dam in Igbara Oke, started by the late Governor Olusegun Agagu, uncompleted. A government source cited economic challenges as the reason for these delays.
In Ogun State, key abandoned projects include the Ipokia State Polytechnic, 24 model schools, and a modern shopping mall in Abeokuta. Solomon Bankole, the state chairman of civil society organizations, urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to complete them.
Ekiti State has an abandoned multimillion-naira recreational and tourist centre project, facilitated by three senators in 2012. The project at Ureje Water Works, Ado-Ekiti, is uncompleted, with only two large structures remaining after the contractor absconded with the funds.
Cross River State also has several stalled projects, including the Piles and Pylons in Awi community, the Bakassi Deep Sea Port, a 276-km Super Highway, Cally Airline, Obudu International Cargo Airport, and more.
Rivers State’s Port Harcourt Monorail, initiated in 2012 by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, remains uncompleted despite its $400 million cost. Delta State’s Sapele Polytechnic and Ayakoromo Bridge are similarly abandoned, though work is ongoing on the bridge, according to the state’s Commissioner for Works.
In Ebonyi State, abandoned projects include the Ebonyi State Trade Centre, the 5 Star Hotel, Rice City Hotel, Bishop Nnachi Okoro Regional Market, and Agricultural Irrigation Facilities in Izzi and Ikwo LGAs. Residents have called on the federal government and Governor Nwifuru to complete them.
Anambra State has several unfinished projects, such as the Three Arms Zone at Ishiagu and the Ebenebe link road. The state’s commissioner for works explained that the Three Arms Zone project was abandoned in favour of the Government House project.
Imo State’s past administration under Owelle Rochas Okorocha began numerous projects, such as the Imo Millennium Park and Hospital, which remain unfinished. Some hospitals, however, have been put into use through private-public partnerships.
Enugu State has also seen abandoned projects, including the Digital Bridge Institute and Adada Dam, intended to boost agriculture. Governor Adam Oshiomhole’s N30 billion stormwater project in Benin City, started by his successor, Godwin Obaseki, was left uncompleted.
In Bayelsa State, multi-billion-naira projects like the Bayelsa Plastic Industry, Bayelsa Palm, and Tower Hotel have been abandoned and are now overrun by weeds.
