One of the major problems with infrastructure in Nigeria is that many of the projects initiated by state governors are abandoned either by their successors or by themselves. Some of these projects are worth billions of naira.
According to The Nation, most of the projects were initially financed through loans, some of which are still being paid or serviced by the affected states.
Below is a list of the states and some of the abandoned projects:
- Rivers State – Monorail project: The Monorail project in Rivers state, which was conceived by the former governor of the state, now the minister of transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in his first tenure as governor in 2008, was designed to cover 12 kilometres at the cost of N50 billion. It was, however, abandoned at the point of 2.6 kilometres when the former governor completed his second tenure in office. Sources said the work had already gulped N33.9 billion. Since Amaechi left office, the project has been abandoned as the current government, led by Governor Nyesom Wike, has continuously exchanged hot words with the former governor over the project. The current government has, for example, alleged that the cost of the project, compared with similar projects in other states, was outrageous.
- Niger State- Minna Airport City Project and Minna Hotel: The Minna Airport City Project was estimated to cost a whopping $600 million. Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has said there were no resources in the state now to complete such a project, insisting that the available resources in the state will instead be channelled to other viable areas. The Minna Hotel cost of the construction was put at N19.6 billion. Although the government had issued a bank guarantee of N1.4 billion and a land worth N400 million, the hotel remains as it is since former Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu left office.
- Bayelsa State- Bayelsa International Hotel: The Bayelsa International Hotel set to be built in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state has suffered similar fate. The hotel was one of the projects used by former governor Timipre Sylva to secure a N50 billion loan from the capital market in December 2009. However, it has been abandoned. A report by the financial management review committee, chaired by the former managing director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe, shows that the cost of the project was N13.9 billion. The report also showed that the project was rated 26 percent completed when the bond was obtained.
- Abia State- Enyimba International Hotel and Abia International Hotels: The Abia International Hotel project was initiated by former governor Sam Mbakwe government, over 38 years ago, It is said that $25 million would be needed to expand and complete it.
- Plateau State- Jos Main Market: Jos Main Market is another abandoned project, which needs N5 billion to complete. The state government said it does not have such money and so has opted to engage investors under Private Public Partnership (PPP).
- Akwa Ibom State- Ibom Tropicana and Ibom Specialist Hospital: In Akwa Ibom state, the Ibom Tropicana still needs N33 billion to complete, while the Ibom Specialist Hospital which cost about N41 billion has been completely shut down.
