A civic group under the banner of the #FixGembuRoad Campaign has renewed calls for urgent government intervention in the stalled reconstruction of the Bali–Serti–Gembu road in Taraba State.

At a press briefing in Jalingo on Tuesday, the group expressed concern over prolonged delays, worsening road conditions, and the growing hardship faced by residents of the Mambilla Plateau in Sardauna Local Government Area.

Speaking on behalf of the campaign, convener Joel David Yaji and co-convener Hassan Alhaji Audu Mamnga criticized the sluggish pace of the ₦95.2 billion project, which was awarded to SCC Nigeria Limited under the Federal Government’s NNPC Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme.

“This road is more than just tarmac. It is the lifeline of our people—connecting families, enabling business, supporting education, and delivering healthcare. Its current state is unacceptable,” Yaji said.

The group lamented that the 374-kilometer journey from Jalingo to Gembu, which should ordinarily take a day, now stretches into two due to the deplorable condition of the road, especially the Maisamari–Nguroje axis.

According to them, the situation has crippled economic activities, disrupted learning, and left healthcare services nearly inaccessible to communities on the plateau.

While acknowledging that work has commenced, the campaigners stressed that progress remains unacceptably slow. They called on elected representatives at all levels to step up oversight and advocacy.

Specifically, they urged the senator representing Taraba Central to raise motions in the Senate and push for strong committee engagement, while also calling on the member representing Sardauna, Gashaka, and Kurmi Federal Constituency to consistently table the matter in the House of Representatives and liaise with the Ministry of Works.



The group further appealed to the Minister of Regional Development and other Taraba representatives in the Federal Executive Council to push for executive-level intervention to fast-track the project.

Highlighting the vast economic and developmental potential of the Mambilla Plateau in tourism, agriculture, and cross-border trade, the campaigners insisted that such opportunities cannot be unlocked without a functional and reliable road network.