Despite a N5.2 billion expenditure by the Niger State government on Suleja township roads, the Suleja-Maddala road remains in a bad state, Investigations by THE WHISTLER Newspaper has shown.
A review of the state’s full year audited financial statement for 2025 fiscal year shows that a sum of N5.2 billion was spent on Suleja township roads to the stretch of 50km in 2025.
The state also budgeted another N12 billion for the same project in 2026, this is based on a review of the full year approved budget, the exact amount spent so far for the 2026 fiscal year could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report due to absence of data.
Visits to different locations around the Madalla-Suleja road which connects the State to the Kaduna-Abuja expressway and serves as a border between the capital territory and Niger shows the poor state of the road.
As of the time of filing this report, the road is riddled with potholes, major cuts, leaving motorists manoeuvring their way to avoid the holes.
Residents and business owners in the area who spoke to THE WHISTLER newspaper noted that when the government started the project, they were hopeful that they would be relievedfrom pains of poor condition of the road but about two years after, the situation appears not to have met expectations.
“This road is major because people coming from Abuja, those going to the Suleja market, those trying to connect adjoining states use it, however it’s condition leaves us with much to worry,” a motorist told THE WHISTLER newspaper.
A business owner who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation told this newspaper that the condition of the road has made transportation riskier.
“When you go to the market to buy goods, you will be scared because in the process of trying to avoid potholes, the tricycle or motorbike drivers sometimes almost hit themselves. If you have a small child, your fear increases,” the respondent told THE WHISTLER newspaper.
It was gathered during this report that due to the condition of the road especially at the Madalla junction which leads to Suleja, motorists now avoid the location, preferring instead to pass through residential streets.
“We are at risk of repairing our vehicles time to time with the condition of the road, so we need to find an alternative,” a motorist explained to THE WHISTLER when asked about why they use alternative routes.
During this investigation, at least two broken down vehicles were seen in the middle of the road waiting for repairs.
Investigation shows that the State government did dig gutters on the road during the commencement of the project, it was gathered that the gutters dug and concrete added to these gutters remain the only visible work done on the stretch of the road.
Residents told this newspaper that when the road project commenced, some buildings were demolished as the government noted that they encroached on the road and went beyond approved measurements.
“When the government demolished the buildings, we thought it would be fast paced because shops were pulled down severally by the government but up till now, it’s only the gutters that can be seen,” a resident told THE WHISTLER.
Efforts to get comments from Ibrahim Bologi, the spokesperson to governor Umar Bago proved abortive as he didn’t reply to messages and calls to his phone line as of the time of filing this report.
Earlier, a review of the Niger State 2025 audited financial statement by THE WHISTLER newspaper shows that it spent N8.8 billion on 82 Changan vehicles for the fiscal year. This development comes even as only N5.8 billion was approved for the purpose of the purchase. Available records show that the state government spent a sum of N3 billion outside the approved amount for the purchase of the vehicles.
