Bauchi’s ₦58.7 billion Roads: Where Exactly Are The 18 Projects? -By Yasir Shehu Adam

On Monday, 10 August 2026, Bauchi State received a high-profile visitor. Former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan came to Bauchi to commission 18 township roads said to cover about 49.7 kilometres across Bauchi metropolis. The projects were presented as a major achievement of the state government.

Road construction is important. Good roads improve transport, support businesses, increase property values, and make life easier for citizens. Nobody is against development.

But one important question remains: where exactly are all the 18 roads?

The government announced that the roads are located across Bauchi metropolis. It also mentioned some of the road names. However, many residents still do not know the exact locations of all the projects, their individual lengths, the contractors that handled them, the cost of each road, and the standards used during construction.

This is not a political question. It is a public accountability question.

The money used for these projects belongs to the people of Bauchi State. Therefore, the people have the right to know how every naira was spent. Transparency is not a favour from government; it is a responsibility.

The state government should publish a complete list of the projects, including:

– The exact location of each road.
– The length of each road.
– The contractor responsible.
– The contract amount for each road.
– The date each project started and was completed.
– The engineering standards used.
– The supervision and quality assurance reports.

When these details are available, citizens, engineers, journalists, civil society groups, and community leaders can inspect the roads and judge their quality for themselves.

If the roads are truly well executed, transparency will strengthen public confidence. If there are weaknesses, early public scrutiny will help protect future projects.

One issue that deserves attention is the reported total cost of about ₦58.7 billion. Whether that amount is justified depends on the quality, durability, drainage system, street lighting, and other engineering components included in the contracts.

A road is not judged by its ribbon-cutting ceremony. It is judged by how long it lasts, how well it survives the rainy season, how it serves residents, and whether it provides value for public money.

Bauchi has many pressing challenges. Communities need better schools, hospitals, water supply, drainage, security, and employment opportunities. Every major public project must therefore be carefully examined to ensure that it truly improves the lives of ordinary people.

This article is not written to attack anyone. It is written to encourage openness. Democracy becomes stronger when governments provide information and citizens ask responsible questions.

The government should go beyond ceremonies and publicity. It should place a map of all the commissioned roads in the public domain, identify every project clearly, and allow independent verification.

Public money deserves public explanation.

The people of Bauchi are not asking for conflict. They are asking for clarity.

And clarity is the foundation of accountability.

Yasir Shehu Adam (Dan Liman) Journalist and Writer, Bauchi.