The burden of abandoned projects and the cost implications have remained some of the biggest headaches of Nigeria’s socio-economic and political landscape. This burden has resulted in economic waste with a monumental social and political implication to the nation.
Alongside high cost of governance, corruption in high places and electoral fraud, abandoned projects by national and state governments have contributed the most to the dwindling fortunes of Nigeria as a country and the sub nationals. Quite unfortunately, governments continue to struggle to deal with the menace and it has been a vicious circle of hopelessness concerning the issue.
Taraba state, created in 1991 has its own share of abandoned projects which has affected the economic and social development of the state under successive administrations.
There are abandoned projects that have remained for over 20 years with successive governments overlooking them and starting new ones which they call ‘legacy projects’. As a matter of fact, such legacy projects were often not finished thereby adding to the list of abandoned projects.
An AI overview on the matter shows the following as abandoned projects in the state: Monking earth dam, small earth dam in Zing, Mambilla hydro power project and the Uranium mines in Yorro. However, other abandoned projects as observed by this writer include: the College of Nursing and Midwifery Jalingo, Greenhouse project, Bali-Gembu road, General hospitals in Gembu, Wukari and Bambur, Lacheke-Pantisawa road, Ibi bridge, to mention but a few.
The AI overview also listed the cost implication of abandoned projects to include: wasted public funds, increased cost of resuscitation, loss of economic potential and negative social impact.
The above factors may have shaped the infrastructure policy direction of Governor Agbu Kefas. Unfortunately, many do not understand the general problem of infrastructure in Nigeria and have often criticised the governor for not starting any project. Despite his efforts at continuing abandoned projects before embarking on new ones, they still criticise. The opposition party, fellow citizens and even the learned and exposed fall flat to this flaw and error of judgement.
For the benefit of doubt, currently, Nigeria is said to be having a N17 trillion worth of abandoned projects which has been serially condemned by Nigerians.
According to the Registrar of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN), Mr. Henry Mbadiwe “the high rate of abandoned projects in the country, are contributing to stifling economic growth in different sectors”.
He said, “abandoned projects in Nigeria stand at over N17 trillion today, and research has shown that the main courses of abandoned projects in Nigeria are lack of articulated vision and objectives that multiple administrations can stand behind, lack of proper project planning from the onset as well as absence of proper budgetary allocation for the project amongst others.”
An AI overview also listed the factors contributing to abandoned projects to include: poor project planning and management, corruption and mismanagement of funds, political interference and instability, lack of funding/financial constraints, weak institutions/lack of accountability.
Also, in December 2021, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) said the country had a staggering 56,000 abandoned projects estimated at over N17 trillion, and still counting.
Meanwhile, in its editorial of May 2024, Daily Trust newspaper, lamented the state of abandoned projects which it traced to lack of continuity. The paper therefore urged governments at the state and federal level to prioritize on completing existing projects before embarking on new ones.
“It is unfortunate that with Nigeria’s huge infrastructure deficit, the public space has become full with abandoned projects, with skeletal frames of half-built structures scattered across the nation, in frozen progress, uncompleted for many years. The projects include office complexes, roads, schools, hospitals, libraries and other facilities.
“They have become part of abandoned dreams, echoing tales of lost potential and narratives of unfulfilled promises. The funds expended seem to have been wasted. Indeed, these gigantic and utility projects, whose foundation-laying ceremonies were mostly organised with fanfare, now represent dashed hopes, missed opportunities and failed expectations.
“But most importantly, abandonment is also traced to a lack of continuity as new governments chase after their own so-called ‘legacy’ projects and tend to abandon contracts awarded by their predecessors, especially when there is a hostile takeover of power.
“It must be stated that had the over 56,000 abandoned projects been completed, the country would have been a much better place for the citizens. Therefore, Daily Trust calls for deliberate project management schedules, which specify time frames on mobilisation to sites, availability of funds and when each intended project will be delivered.
“We also implore the state governments, who have most of the abandoned projects, to domesticate the Public Procurement Act 2007 to help drive the much-needed transparency, competitiveness, cost-effectiveness, and professionalism in the public sector procurement system.
“Moreover, it is important for the president and governors to note that government is a continuum, therefore, successive governments must learn to complete projects started by their predecessors before starting new ones. The constitution provides the framework for the political-administrative continuum and the citizens and even civil society organisations (CSOs) should encourage continuity in the execution of projects.
“It is also important that each government focuses on completing existing projects that will impact the lives of the people, whether they started them or not.
“We again urge the federal and state governments to prioritise the completion of abandoned projects. Governors should not bother about who gets the credit when projects are executed. After all, the whole essence of governance is the welfare of the people. Abandoning projects is not one of the ways of enhancing the people’s welfare,” Daily Trust stated.
It is on this note that Governor Kefas must be commended for not being political in his infrastructure policy. He prioritized continuity rather than putting up new projects’ just to score a political point. He was quite prudent in resource management by not embarking on new projects at the expense of ongoing or abandoned projects.
For instance, he put in resources towards the completion of the long abandoned College of Nursing and Midwifery. He remodelled the present Government House and House of Assembly complexes. Recalled that his predecessor attempted building a new Government House but failed. He remodelled the existing Government Lodges in Jalngo, Abuja and across the Local Council Areas. The Green House, long abandoned, has been restored. One of the oldest tertiary institutions in the state, the College of Agric. which has suffered from abandonment is experiencing a facelift. The long abandoned Bali-Gembu road is heading towards completion.
There are several others in the pipeline that need scrutiny in order to appreciate the policy direction of the governor.
Without a proper scrutiny and understanding of his policy direction, one can only assume and make grave misconceptions and wrong perceptions.
No doubt he has his lapses and we point to his lapses whenever they are identified. Pin pointing his lapses is a matter for another day. However, he must be commended in certain areas
Finally, Governor Agbu Kefas, a Harvard graduate must be commended for his astuteness, resilience and focus in delivering on his development agenda despite criticisms.
