It’s an old story now, our government’s fixation on showy projects, neglecting the basic needs of the people. They’re polishing stones while the people starve and struggle, prioritising prestige over people, and widening the gap to progress. The shiny new stadium, road, or monument may bring temporary cheer, but it’s the neglected schools, hospitals, and provision of better job opportunities with very good salaries that truly impact lives.
In Rivers State, this fixation is particularly glaring. The government’s singular focus on roads has created a landscape of half-built highways, dusty side roads, and potholes that swallow entire vehicles. Meanwhile, schools lack textbooks, hospitals lack equipment, and communities lack basic amenities. But the roads? They’re always getting “reconstructed”.
Just recently, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the immediate reconstruction of the Bodo-Bonny road in Rivers State, and Minister David Umahi announced that the May deadline for parts of the East-West road project might shift to allow for quality work and added features like solar street lights and retaining walls. The Eket-bound lane has been completed, while work on the Port Harcourt-bound lane is ongoing, and the Onne Flyover is on track for completion by May 2026.
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The Rivers State government is also set to begin construction of a 2.5km shoreline reclamation project for Ndoni, Oniukwu, Isiukwu, and Ase-Azaga communities. But what’s the point of these projects if they’re not addressing the people’s pressing needs? It’s a peculiar kind of progress, where the only metric of success is the number of road signs erected or the length of road contracted.
Should the government continue to focus on just roads? The people deserve better; they deserve a government that fixes more than just roads. We need more than just roads and monuments. We need free and standard schools, a salary increase, and a lot more. It’s time for leaders to stop chasing shadows and create substance, shift their gaze from vanity projects to tangible improvements that uplift communities and foster lasting growth.
The government’s priorities are clear: roads, roads, and more roads. But the people know that true development goes beyond asphalt. It’s time for the government to catch up. The people deserve a government that invests in their future, not just their roads.
