South-South: An Oil-Rich Region With ‘Dunghills’ Of Abandoned Projects
The oil-rich South-South region, popularly referred to as the ‘goose that lays the golden eggs’ owing to its huge contributions to the country’s economic development, is now best described as a zone replete with dunghills of abandoned projects. The consequences of incomplete projects, which littered the region, have led to gloom and despair. The deluge of abandoned roads, bridges, hospitals, schools and industries have significantly impeded economic growth and led to resource wastage, ANN GODWIN, TINA AGOSI TODO, JULIUS OSAHON and MONDAY OSAYANDE report.
THE South-south region, which is rich in natural resources, particularly crude oil, lags behind others with similar endowment in other climes when it comes to development. Despite the fact that it received the highest share of ₦8.79 trillion special allocations from the Federation Account in 2020 and 2021 on account of its being the largest oil-producing area of the country, the region is severely struggling with nauseating and lamentable challenge of abandoned projects.
According to a report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the South-South received ₦2.59 trillion or 29.53 per cent of the total revenue shared with the federating units within the period. The sum is from the 13 per cent derivation revenue allocated exclusively to the nine oil-producing states. Five of the states are from the South-South geopolitical zone.
Section 162, sub-section 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), explicitly states that no less than 13 per cent derivation should accrue to oil- producing states. Arguably, almost all the states in the South -South region are enriched with huge oil resources. Yet, abandoned projects have been a major obstacle to development in states such as, Rivers, Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Edo and Cross River, where public services and infrastructure are in terrible state.
Some of the striking abandoned projects in the region include the Bodo-Bonny Road, some sections of the East-West Road, Monorail Project, textile factories in Asaba and Cross River, Aluminum Smelter Plant in Ikot Abasi, dredging of the channels leading to Port Harcourt, Calabar and other inland ports, andt the Benin-Irrua – Auchi-Warri Road.
Previous administrations that failed to show commitment to finishing projects they initiated or those started by their predecessors include that of the late President Muhammadu Buhari; former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is from South-South; and some former governors.
Buhari kicked off the Bodo-Bonny bridge and road project in 2017 through his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, after over 40 years that it was conceived. The critical project aimed to connect Bonny Island in Rivers State to upland areas in the state was being implemented through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement in which the Federal Government and the NLNG were to bear 50 per cent of the ₦120.6 billion cost. The contract sum was later reviewed upward to ₦199 billion with completion deadline of December 2023. The date has since elapsed and the project remains uncompleted.
The immediate past Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, visited the project sites on several occasions with assurance of completion. However, it was abandoned towards the expiration of Buhari’s second term and the contractors, Julius Berger PLC, pulled out of the site following funding challenges under that administration. Due to the inability to complete the project on time, which would’ve served as the only road route to Bonny Island, sea travelers have become prone to dangers, including pirate attacks and boat accidents via sea route.
On 19 January 2025, a boat mishap occurred on the Bonny-Port Harcourt sea-route, claiming the lives of two adults and a toddler. Also, there have been frequent incidents of boat accidents as well as pirates’ attacks on the sea route.
But recently, the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, through the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, mobilised the contractors back to site. Specifically, in January this year, the minister, during site inspection, lamented that in spite of the payment of 85 per cent of the ₦199 billion contract sum to Julius Berger for the continuous construction of the road, no tangible work had been done. However, latest findings revealed that the contractors have returned and work is progressing gradually.
Efforts Of Region’s Governors
It was gathered that the former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, made frantic efforts, using the state’s money of about ₦78 billion, to fix Federal Government projects, including the Port Harcourt-Owerri Road and the Eleme Junction flyover but his monorail project was abandoned. It was gathered that ₦33.9 billion was spent on the ₦150 billion project before it was abandoned in 2013. The immediate past governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, claimed that ₦45 billion was wasted on the project.
Though Wike started and completed some bridges and roads in the state between 2016 and 2023, he neglected most of the projects in education and health initiated by his predecessor, Amaechi. Wike confirmed the refund of the Rivers N78billion spent on federal projects on January 2021 during the inauguration of Isiokpo Internal Roads Phase 2 in Ikwere Council of the state.
Similarly, several projects initiated by former Governor of Cross River, Ben Ayade, have been abandoned. One of them is the very popular garment factory.
Rather than focus on how to complete the abandoned projects and fulfill their electoral promises, the South-South governors under the current administration are prioritising politics ahead of 2027 elections.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, during a visit to Bonny Bodo road project
Already, the governors of Akwa-Ibom, Umo Eno; Sheriff Oborevwori, Delta; Monday Okpebholo, Edo and Bassey Otu, Cross River have pitched their tent with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). There are speculations that Rivers and Bayelsa states governors, Siminalayi Fubara and Douye Diri may soon join the alliance.
Even the regional governors’ forum is not operating as expected. There has not been any serious formal meeting or action by the group to address the region’s underdevelopment and other challenges since the one it held in January this year.
East-West Road
Various sections of the East-West Road project have been abandoned causing serious nightmares to the users. In the heat of violent agitations by youths and militants in the region, former President Olusegun Obasanjo awarded the contract in 2006. The 675km dual-carriageway with an additional 23.9km was conceived to link the states in the region and also connect them with the Southwest, region. About 19 years after, several sections were re-awarded by past administrations for ₦156 billion and later the Federal Executive Council in November 2022 approved ₦260 billion plus other approvals for maintenance, bringing the contract sum to ₦506 billion. It is worrisome that sections one to four, including the Warri to Port Harcourt, Eket, and Oron, are still in a very poor state despite the huge sums so far sunk into the project. Currently, work is ongoing at the Eleme-Onne axis of the road. Sadly too, the deplorable state of some of the sections is causing accidents, sending many travelers to early grave.
In August 2024, a pregnant woman, four others died following a tanker explosion that occurred when two tanker drivers struggled to navigate the deplorable section of the road between the Indorama Petrochemical Plc and the Alaeto Eleme Bridge. Over 120 vehicles were also burnt in the inferno. Also, on January 12 this year, an accident at the Alaeto Bridge along the Eleme axis of the East-West Road claimed the life of an expatriate. The accident was linked to the poor state of the road. Residents of the area have long decried the Federal Government’s neglect of the road, which is the only route that leads to the Port Harcourt Refinery, Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), Onne Sea Port, and a host of over 300 other oil and gas companies.
The Asaba Textile Industry
The abandoned Asaba Textile Mill in the capital of Delta State used to be the third largest textile producer in Nigeria, employing over 5,000 people. The mill was a major player in Nigeria’s textile industry, producing African prints and other fabrics. At its peak, it was a significant employer and contributor to the nation’s economy.
With the current hike in the price of made-in- Nigeria fabrics, the mill would have played a major role in stemming the rising price of locally made fabrics but it went comatose owing to many challenges, including lack of adequate funding, unreliable power supply, lack of access to capital and high interest rates on loans. The government shifted its focus to oil, neglecting the development of other industries. The mill is now abandoned, with its buildings and machinery left in decay.
Similarly, in Cross River State, the ₦2.7 billion garment factory which was established by former Governor Ayade as one of his signature projects in 2016 has become abandoned. The facility was to drive the textile business locally and globally as well as reduce unemployment. The factory which employed 3,000 women, mostly widows, became abandoned due to lack of adequate attention, maintenance and funding. Other abandoned Federal Government projects in the state include the ₦1.2 billion Ikom Specialist Hospital, which was initiated by former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba.
The project was approved in 2012 and was meant to serve as a medical hub for residents of Ikom and the surrounding areas, to reduce the distress in long-distance travel to seek quality healthcare. The construction was halted in 2015, leaving the facility half-done and now in a state of disrepair. Consequently, this has exacerbated the health woes of the citizens. The failure of the government to complete this project has led to overstretching of the under-equipped hospitals in the state and compelling some persons to patronise traditional healing centres, which have limited access to modern diagnostic and treatment equipment.
A community-based woman activist, Mrs. Sarah Peters, said that rural women in the area faced chronic poverty and diseases, and that lack of adequate health facilities has drastically affected the women and children. A pregnant woman (30), Mercy Akpan, said she lost her first pregnancy last year due to inability to access quality health care facility.
Another abandoned project in Cross River is the Ikom-Wula-Obudu road, which has been left uncompleted 22 years ago. It was learnt that the crucial road would have improved access to Obudu, an area known for its tourism potential, especially the Obudu Mountain Resort. The dilapidated state of the road is hampering economic activities, limiting farmers’ access to markets, and discouraging tourists from visiting one of Nigeria’s prime destinations. If completed, it would have fostered regional development, boosted tourism revenue, and enhanced the quality of life of residents along the route.
The story of abandonment of projects in Bayelsa State is not different. The Federal Government is yet to return to the Okaki/Brass Federal Road project which was approved and started long before the creation of Bayelsa State.
The project was kicked off by the General Ibrahim Babangida military administration with the assurance that it would be completed in 48 months. It was executed up to Otuasega in Ogbia Council and stopped. Unfortunately, till date, the project has not received any attention. Consequently, the road has become unpassable and criminals exploit the bad state to rob people.
Another project abandoned by the Federal Government is the building of houses in parts of Yenagoa and Ogbia councils of Bayelsa State, including the police headquarters and barracks. A bridge project in Akenfa Community in Yenagoa, the state capital, awarded in 2010 was also abandoned. Because of the abandonment, the residents of the area resorted to the use of canoes to ferry themselves across the overflowing Epie creek.
The Ekeremor Community Shore Protection project, it was gathered, was awarded for ₦3.8 billion out of which about ₦1.7 billion has been paid. For the abandoned Amassoma Shore Protection project, it was gathered that ₦2.1 billion has been paid to the contractor.
Edo State
In Edo State, the Benin-Warri Road has turned to a death trap. The Guardian investigations showed that the Benin axis of the road, especially from Ologbo, a boundary town between Delta and Edo states, to Benin bye-pass, has become a nightmare and impassable. An accident that occurred in that axis recently claimed the life of a young lady who was crushed to death by a heavy truck that fell on her while trying to navigate one of the failed portions of the road. Passengers and commuters suffer pains daily while traveling through the route. It was observed that traveling on the road from the Warri end, particularly between Effurun and Sapele as well as Koko junction down to Benin bye-pass, has become a nightmare.
The terrible state of the expressway has led to many accidents that claimed the lives of many people. Passengers who resorted to using alternate routes have been exposed to attacks by criminals and lost productive hours.
Lamentations of INC, PANDEF, Ex-Agitators, CSOs
Ex-agitators and groups, including the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and Ijaw Youths Congress (IYC) as well as locals have expressed their displeasure with the situation in the region which they say is grossly deficient in infrastructure. Some have accused the Federal Government of not exhibiting the political will to accelerate completion of roads and other infrastructural projects in the region.
The National Publicity Secretary of INC, Chief Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, said: “It is alarming and disheartening to see a great number of abandoned projects across the South-South region. The projects represent the squandering of billions of naira of taxpayer funds. This is of great concern because it demonstrates the weakness of institutions in the country. It clearly shows the level of corruption in the country. Statistics have shown that there are more abandoned projects in the region compared to other regions in the country.”
Similarly, a former spokesman of PANDEF, Dr. Ken Robinson, said: ‘’ It is unfortunate that the country’s journey to nationhood and socio-economic development has been greatly impaired and constrained by structural and social defects. The government is failing to live up to its primary responsibility of providing infrastructure and ensuring security and well-being of the citizens.
“The Niger Delta region is the biggest victim of the present defective federal system. Today, the situation is that those who contribute little or nothing get plenty, while paradoxically, those who contribute so much get so little. Oil and gas exploration activities have degraded the once luxuriant and healthy ecosystem of the Niger Delta and damaged the indigenous people’s means of livelihood, with little or no effort to ameliorate their dire standard of living.”
A stakeholder from Ogoni axis, Gani Topba, expressed regret that the neglect of the East -West road project, especially the Eleme-Onne axis, was affecting the economic life and the health of the people.
A community activist in Eleme Council of the state, Emmanuel Obe, stated that if the various abandoned projects in the region were fully executed, they would have boosted the quality of life and the economy of the region. According to him, the projects would have resolved some of the biggest socio-economic crises in the region, including restiveness, uneven migration, violent crime and youth unemployment.
Projects Abandoned By FG’s Agencies
Apart from direct Federal Government projects that were abandoned, there are others abandoned by some agencies of the government in the region, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The 2019 Presidential Forensic Audit commissioned by the late President Buhari reportedly uncovered over 13,000 abandoned or non-existent projects that cost about $40billion.
Checks revealed that the NDDC has about 953 abandoned projects across Rivers State only. This was confirmed by the commission’s representative in Rivers State, Tony Okocha.
According to him, frequent changes in the management and board of the NDDC contributed majorly to the abandonment of projects. Every board awards fresh projects that are often not executed. Okocha revealed that in some instances, the contractors were fully paid while in some instances, the contractors did work but were not paid.
The Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, during a world press conference held recently in Asaba, Delta State capital to mark the commission’s 25th anniversary, blamed the challenge of abandoned projects on instability of the agency’s board. He, however, attributed the improved performance under his administration to the efforts of President Bola Tinubu at ensuring stability of the board since he assumed office. Ogbuku who said that the abandoned projects would not be completed in a day promised to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta.
But a human rights activist, who is the Programmes and Communications Coordinator of Social Action, Peter Mazi, attributed the abandonment of projects to the alleged use of the NDDC as a ‘patronage tool’ where contracts are allocated based on political affiliations and electoral considerations rather than the actual development needs of the region. The practice, he said, has birthed hundreds of uncompleted and phantom projects littering the landscape.
“A glaring example of these phantom projects is the inflation of the budget of the Water Hyacinth project in 2016 from ₦2.5 billion to ₦65 billion. Meanwhile, health indicators in the region remain dire, environmental degradation persists, and youth unemployment festers, all while funds are siphoned through political projects that exist only on paper or in skeletal form. Civil society organizations like Social Action and the Niger Delta Citizens and Budget Platform have consistently documented these failures, but their calls for reform are often ignored by entrenched interests,” the activist lamented.
Morris Alagoa, a human right activist and Deputy Director of the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), said that abandonment of projects is not in the best interest of the people and the government, considering the benefits derivable if the projects are completed.
Alagoa noted that completion of projects brings infrastructural development and reduction in unemployment and accommodation challenges. A monarch in Ekeremor Council of Bayelsa State, His Royal Highness, David Isiayi, decried the menace of abandoned projects and staged a peaceful protest against NDDC contractors over neglect of projects.
In Delta State, some abandoned projects are located in Bomadi, Ughelli North, Uwie, Warri South, Warri North, Sapele and Ethiope West local government areas.
The NDDC has also abandoned the construction of Eku-Obagie-Boboroku/Agor Road, which was awarded to Rhino Maritime Services and Construction Ltd about six years ago. The road which is in three sections cuts across Eku, Obagie, Boboroku and Agor at Ijere in Ethiope West Council. Eku and Obagie are in Ethiope East Council.
A monarch in Delta Central, King Obukohwo Monday Whiske Udurhie, lamented that the abandonment of the projects is denying the intended beneficiaries the positive impact in their lives and businesses.
In Edo, work on the Benin/Abraka Road the contract of which was awarded during the administration of Adams Oshiomhole has not been completed. Also, nothing significant has happened till date on a number of projects initiated in the area by the Federal Government, including the Benin- Lokoja road, when Mike Onolememen was Minister of Works.
The Palace Road project in Uteh Community in Ikpoba-Okha Council of Edo State the contract of which was awarded by the NDDC in 2014 has been neglected. At a time, the residents staged a protest to draw attention of the commission to the job.
Experts Speak
In developing countries such as Nigeria, and especially in oil rich region, some infrastructures are necessary for social economic development, but abandonment of projects has constituted a major hindrance to achieving this kind of environment.
A research and policy analyst in the Research and Policy Advisory Department of BudgIT, Ibukunoluwa James, lamented that not just in South South region, abandoned projects litter the country. James cited the Zunguru hydro power plant in Kaduna State, saying that despite its technical readiness and connection to the national grid, it is still facing challenge in effectively transmitting and distributing the electricity generated. According to the expert, unfinished projects impede the advancement of infrastructure, which is essential for economic development.
“When these projects do not create impact, they prevent communities and businesses from accessing vital resources required for smooth operation. Such halt in progress subsequently lowers economic output and deters private investment, as investors view the business climate as unstable or inefficient,’’ she said.
According to James, abandonment of projects also has significant social effects. “A lot of the initiatives, such as housing projects and those on healthcare facilities and schools are initially aimed at enhancing public welfare. Communities lose access to essential services when these are left unfinished, which lowers the quality of life.
“The sad reality remains that abandonment of projects fosters dissatisfaction and despair in the community. People’s trust in state institutions declines when they observe successive government initiatives that are started with great fanfare but remain unfinished. Because the public believes that the government is ineffective or corrupt, this breeds a trust deficit, and the people will see every attempt of the government as an avenue to siphon and mismanage funds. Governments rely on public confidence to implement policies, collect taxes, and mobilise social cooperation. Project abandonment sends a message of inefficiency, mismanagement, or corrupt leadership, eroding citizens’ faith in political institutions,” the analyst explained.
Similarly, a financial expert who is the Chief Executive Officer at Alexander Stephen IQ, Tunde Bello, noted that abandonment of projects leads to huge financial loss and lack of project management expertise.
“Most times government gets involved in projects without adequate knowledge or insights into its viability, benefits and durability. The impact assessment carried out sometimes is just to fulfill all righteousness without actually looking into the positive impact on citizens, the economy of the state and more. This has severe effects. Second issue is misappropriation of fund.”
How To Stem Abandonment Of Projects
When projects are completed, they accelerate development, improve quality of lives of the people, attract investment, create opportunities and tame youth restiveness. Therefore, it is crucial to stem the rise in the number of abandoned projects. The community activist who is also an expert in project monitoring, Obe, called for a review of projects execution procedures.
“Obviously, it is clear that the current political structure and the systems of public procurements cannot guarantee completion of a lot of these huge key projects that require complex funding protocols. The political system is not stable enough to support these projects.
“So, there is need to evolve funding and project execution procedures that have minimal political exposures. Big private sector operators and economic players should be encouraged to invest in these projects and be allowed to recoup their investments through mutually agreed terms.”
Mazi urged the South South region to reject mediocrity and do away with corrupt politicians. He said the people should demand accountability from their leaders.
“A multipronged approach is essential. First, there must be legal and institutional reforms that make project implementation subject to transparent procurement processes, monitored in real-time by community-based civil society actors.”
On her part, the BudGIT expert said to prevent the costly consequences of abandoning projects, governments must enforce rigorous planning and risk assessments by strengthening project monitoring and evaluation where necessary, mandate feasibility studies, strengthen governance through transparency and anti-corruption measures, and improve financial management with milestone-based funding and independent audits.
The INC publicity secretary urged relevant agencies, including the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), to critically look into issues of abandoned projects and hold the offenders accountable.
“The lack of accountability is a major factor in the abandonment of projects. The EFCC should rise to their task and prosecute these offenders. Political leaders from this region who take money and abandon projects should be publicly condemned and blacklisted.”
While oil money continues to flow into the coffers of the states in the South-South, paradoxically, the residents are still plagued with lack of motorable roads and other basic amenities like hospitals and good schools.
To address the menace of abandoned projects, political leaders must eschew selfish ambitions, be transparent in their official activities and responsibilities, and ensure consistency in government policies, while the people should resolve to courageously demand steady accountability from their representatives in government.
