Keffi–Nasarawa Road: A Neglected Lifeline Threatening Lives And Livelihoods

By Yahaya Abdulrahman

The deplorable condition of the Keffi–Nasarawa Road has become a matter of urgent concern, dominating conversations among commuters and the general public. This is not just a bad road — it is a collapsing lifeline connecting vital economic corridors in Nigeria.

This route links the Southeast, starting from the Low-Cost junction in Nasarawa through the Maraba–Udege–Loko–Owetto Road, and connects to the Southwest via the Toto–Abaji Road. It serves as a critical artery for the movement of people, goods, and services — yet it remains shamefully neglected.

The neglect is even more baffling considering the region’s enormous economic potential. Solid minerals and farm produce are explored and traded here in commercial quantities. Recall that Mr President commissioned the country’s largest lithium processing plant in this area. Numerous solid mineral companies, vast warehouses for agricultural produce, and thriving markets attract businesses from across Nigeria. Yet the very road that underpins this economic activity is falling apart.

The consequences are devastating. Every day, lives are lost to avoidable accidents on this stretch. Vehicle breakdowns are frequent, and insecurity along the route hampers trade and movement. Even now, when prices of food and essential commodities are beginning to drop for the benefit of the poor, these gains are cancelled out by exorbitant transportation costs. Drivers, burdened with frequent repairs caused by the road’s poor condition, pass these costs to passengers and traders — strangling the local economy and driving away potential investors.

The human toll is heartbreaking. Patients referred to Keffi, Abuja, Lafia, or Jos often arrive in worsened condition because of the road, and some never make it at all. This is both tragic and unacceptable.

It is deeply troubling that the authorities remain silent while this vital link deteriorates further. The Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency Dave Umahi, must be urged to take immediate action. This is not merely a local inconvenience — it is a national economic and humanitarian crisis.

Every voice matters in this cause. Civil society groups, business owners, transport unions, traditional rulers, and ordinary citizens must unite to raise the alarm until this road is fixed. The Keffi–Nasarawa Road is more than a stretch of asphalt — it is the economic pulse of a region and the lifeline of its people. The time to act is now.

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