Information available to ViewPointNigeria indicates that the Lalong administration has stepped up it efforts at expanding/constructing key road networks across the state.

In a tender exclusively shared with ViewPointNigeria, the State Government is inviting interests for pre-qualification and construction of road networks in the Angwan Rogo area of Jos North LGA.

The Angwan Rogo road network project is one of a number of road projects at the tender stage, which means it would soon get sanction (after contract awards).

In the same light, the Lalong administration has beamed its attention onto several other roads in the 3 senatorial districts, with the view of constructing them over the next few years. These roads are said to be at the proposal stage and therefore still being vetted (prior to getting approval).

Some of the proposals seen by ViewPointNigeria shows that up to different 10 roads are at the proposal state. And the Lalong administration has equitably positioned these in all three senatorial zones of the state. The road projects include a mix of new road constructions, as well as the re-construction of old ones.

A selection road currently said to be under consideration:

a. Lankang-Abwor/Dyis-Kagu link: Which offers the benefit of opening the much needed access from deep areas of Pankshin South all the way to Pankshin.

b. Mangu bye-pass road: This enables commuters to avoid the busy commercial nerve of Mangu if on transit to other parts of the state.

c. Dawaki_GyangGyang-Seri-Amper road: Which opens up an access road linking key markets and communities.

d. Dengi – Kwalmiya-Dugub-Gagi road

e. Kuba-Tenti-Muanga-Daffo road

f. Kposho-Chakarum-Kogom-Vwang-Vom vet road

g. Wase-Kadarko – Dadin Kowa road

f. Fobur-Naton-Fursa-Maijuju -Zandi road

g. Tahoss-Ganawuri road

h. Wase-Mavo-Gimbi road

Analysis by ViewPointNigeria

It is laudable that the Rescue administration has taken on rural road construction as one of the cardinal commitments to Plateau people. This will undoubted go a long way to open accesses to markets, boost agriculture, improve community liaison and boot productivity.

That said, executing these capital intensive projects in these austere times of deep recession and economic turmoil, is a totally different ball-game and may present real challenges to the state government. Particularly in the face of the very large civil servants salary burden and the meagre subventions accruing in its coffers (note oil price is now $49 per barrel).

The ambition from the state government is without a doubt commendable, but analysts from ViewPointNigeria have assessed the financial commitment of the road projects and are uncertain whether the “financial where-without” to execute these projects exist, given the current challenges.

That said, it must be noted that these projects are still at proposal stage and are yet to be crystallised into concrete projects. Only the Angwan Rogo road construction project is currently at pre-tender stage, with invitations for tender to shortly be announced.

At the time of writing this article, ViewPointNigeria was making contact with the Plateau State Internal Revenue generation board to obtain results of the generated revenue for last quarter. These will be reported once received.

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Lalong plans new roads: Angwan Rogo & others in 3 senatorial zones under consideration