By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Residents of Idah, the traditional headquarters of Igala land in Kogi State, have appealed to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to urgently intervene in the worsening condition of township roads, following what they described as the abandonment of ongoing reconstruction works.
The appeal was made through the Ane-Igala Socio Cultural Development Association (AISCDA), which submitted a formal petition expressing concern over the stalled project and its impact on daily life in the ancient town.
The group said expectations were high when the road project was flagged off in July last year, but alleged that progress has since slowed drastically, with contractors largely absent from site and visible work left incomplete.
According to the association, the situation has turned several key roads into difficult and unsafe routes, disrupting movement, economic activities, and access within Idah.
Its chairman, Chief Akwu Umar Goodman, said the community is disappointed that a project of such importance appears to have been neglected, despite the resources committed to it.
He added that residents are now bearing the burden of what they described as poor execution and weak supervision, raising concerns about possible lapses in monitoring by relevant technical officials.
The petition further alleged that the prolonged inactivity on the project reflects both contractor inefficiency and administrative gaps in oversight.
The group warned that continued delay would further worsen infrastructure decay in the town and deepen public frustration.
It therefore called on the state government to take decisive steps, including reviewing the contract, enforcing accountability, or replacing the contractor with a more competent firm capable of delivering the project.
AISCDA also urged the deployment of independent engineers to assess the level of work done so far and ensure that any future continuation meets approved standards.
The association stressed that Idah, as the cultural and historical seat of the Atta Igala, deserves functional infrastructure that reflects its status and supports socio-economic development.
“We appeal for urgent intervention to prevent further deterioration and restore confidence in government projects,” the group stated.
Idah residents cry out over abandoned roads, petition GOdodo for urgent intervention
