Hopes for a long-awaited lifeline across the River Ibi have been dashed, as the multi-billion-naira Ibi River Bridge project lies abandoned in the Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State.
According to the socio-accountability platform MonITNG, a recent visit to the site revealed a complete halt in construction activities, with no workers in sight and only partial infrastructure left behind.
The bridge, expected to connect Taraba to Bauchi, Nasarawa, and Plateau states, was awarded in 2020 under the Federal Government’s Sukuk bond initiative at a contract sum of ₦57 billion.
The project was seen as critical for improving access to markets, healthcare, and education for thousands of residents who still rely on wooden canoes to cross the river—often at significant risk to their lives.
According to MonitNG, the “construction firm RCC Nigeria Ltd left behind only partial sand-filling, a few piers, and some idle barges.”
The organisation further quoted locals as saying the site has become a target for looters, with building materials such as iron rods being carted away.
It was further noted that “disbursement records from govspend.ng show that RCC has already received over ₦4.7 billion between 2021 and 2024.”
“The project was awarded under the Federal Government’s 2020 Sukuk bond initiative with a ₦57 billion contract sum. According to disbursement records from govspend.ng, RCC Nigeria Ltd received an initial ₦2 billion from the Sukuk, followed by ₦313,333,333.33 (17/09/2021), ₦179,046,619.05 (11/10/2021), ₦319,828,189.48 and ₦802,264,833.77 (04/03/2024), and ₦802,264,833.75 and ₦319,828,189.48 (19/03/2024), totaling ₦4,736,566,998.86,” it was noted.
Despite this, there has been no progress on the project for over a year.
“The people believed their suffering was coming to an end after over 40 years of waiting,” said the Tafidan Ibi, a local traditional leader. “But now, they feel abandoned once again.”
When contacted, officials at the Federal Ministry of Works in Jalingo confirmed that RCC had submitted a ₦4 billion payment certificate that has yet to be honoured. However, they admitted that the company had already received substantial funds and offered no justification for the abandonment
As frustration grows among residents and community leaders, calls are mounting for accountability. Citizens are urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and relevant authorities to investigate the matter and ensure the project’s completion.
“This bridge is not just infrastructure—it’s a lifeline,” said one community member. “We can’t afford for it to become another broken promise,” the statement noted.
SaharaReporters’ checks on the public payments portal Govspend confirm that ₦4.279 billion was paid out for the project between October 2019 and March 2024.