On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, The Senate has officially called on the Federal Government to prioritize the completion of existing and ongoing road projects across the nation before initiating new ones, aiming to address widespread infrastructure decay and boost economic growth.
The decision followed a motion sponsored by Senator Tony Nwoye (Anambra North), who drew urgent attention to the severe deterioration of the critical highway connecting communities in Anambra State to Ndoni in Rivers State.
While taking a firm stance against embarking on fresh road constructions, the Upper Chamber clarified that exceptions should strictly apply to vital, unavoidable interventions such as reconstructing roads destroyed by severe flooding or opening up access to completely underserved regions.
The Senate directed the Federal Ministry of Works to concentrate funding and resources on completing long abandoned and ongoing highways across all geopolitical zones rather than spreading funds thin across new projects.
Lawmakers emphasized that dilapidated interstate routes severely hinder commerce, inflate transportation costs, destroy agricultural value chains, and pose constant threats to commuters’ lives and property.
Highlighting the Onitsha–Ogbaru–Ndoni route, a key axis for regional trade and oil production originally built in the late 1980s, Senator Nwoye noted that travel time for the 70 kilometer stretch has doubled, drastically disrupting local commerce and industrial activities.
Supporting the motion, Senators Isah Jibrin, Diket Plang, Samson Ekong, Adams Oshiomhole, Ahmad Lawan, Adamu Aliero, and Wasiu Eshilokun unanimously voiced concern over neglected arteries including the Calabar–Itu, Aba–Ikot Ekpene, and Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene roads, urging disciplined budgetary focus to alleviate public suffering.
Addressing the assembly, Senate President Godswill Akpabio concurred with lawmakers on the necessity of finishing existing infrastructure, reiterating that new road starts must be strictly limited to emergency situations like flood mitigation and critical regional access.
The Senate reaffirmed that completing these stalled infrastructure projects is vital to restoring public confidence, enhancing national connectivity, and supporting the Federal Government’s broader economic stability agenda.
