Barely three years after its commissioning by former President Muhammadu Buhari at a cost of N38 billion, the Nasarawa–Oweto–Otukpo Federal Road in Benue State has suffered extensive structural failure, with large sections now collapsed and impassable. The road, conceived as a strategic link between Nasarawa, Oweto, Agatu and Otukpo to boost trade and cut travel time, has been largely abandoned by motorists.
An assessment of the corridor shows peeled asphalt, caved-in shoulders and severe erosion cutting across the carriageway. Several culverts are exposed or damaged, while motorists in some areas divert into bushes to bypass failed sections. The once-busy highway is now deserted, particularly along the Agatu–Otukpo and Oweto–Nasarawa stretches.
Investigations indicate that heavy-duty trucks and tankers, which diverted to the route after its completion due to its shorter distance, accelerated the road’s deterioration. The absence of functional weighbridges and axle-load enforcement reportedly allowed overloaded vehicles to operate unchecked, weakening the pavement structure. With worsening insecurity, these vehicles have since reverted to the Makurdi axis.
Frequent kidnappings and armed attacks along adjoining corridors have further discouraged road users. Incidents of abductions and ambushes around Otukpo, Agatu, Adoka and Ogobia have heightened fears, making the road unsafe for commuters and hindering maintenance efforts. Residents and commercial drivers lament declining business activities and restricted access to essential services.
Experts have questioned how a N38 billion project could fail within three years, citing possible design flaws, poor drainage, substandard materials or weak supervision. The project, constructed by Reynolds Construction Company Nigeria Limited and overseen by federal authorities, has drawn criticism amid silence from the contractors and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency over the collapse, raising concerns about accountability and infrastructure oversight.
