Project Background
Lot 1: Gode–Hargelle 100 km
In October 2020, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed laid the foundation stone for Lot 1 of the Gode–Hargelle Road Project, covering a 100-kilometre stretch. The contract, which combined design and construction, was awarded to FAL General Contractor PLC.
Lot 1 Contract Details
Contractor: FAL General Contractor PLC
Contract Type: Design and Build
Contract Duration: 4 years
Award/Commencement Period: October 2020
Contract Value: ETB 1,893,759,386.74
The plan was to use satisfactory performance on Lot 1 as a basis for moving forward with Lot 2. However, following substantial delays, Lot 2 was eventually handed over in February 2025.
Lot 2: Contract Details
Contractor: Bridge Construction PLC
Contract Date: 6 February 2025
Contract Duration: 48 months (4 years)
Contract Value: ETB 6,267,365,618.44
Allegations and Concerns Surrounding the Project
Several serious concerns have been raised regarding the funding, oversight and implementation of the Gode–Hargelle Road Project.
1. Budget Allocations and Project Funding
According to the information provided, since the project's groundbreaking, the federal government has allocated funding to the project annually. However, the source alleges that no full year's budget allocation has been translated into corresponding project progress. Over a six-year period, the combined allocations for the two lots reportedly amounted to ETB 3.598 billion.
Annual Budget Allocations for the Gode–Hargelle Road Project
The following figures show the annual budget allocations reportedly earmarked for the project over the past six years.
Ethiopian Calendar (E.C.) | Annual Allocation (ETB)
2013 E.C. | 315,000,000 |
2014 E.C. | 422,500,000 |
2015 E.C. | 432,203,000 |
2016 E.C. | 341,651,000 |
2017 E.C. | 1,255,614,000 |
2018 E.C. | 831,000,000 |
Total: |3,597,968,000 |
The reported total allocation over this period amounts to ETB 3.598 billion.
These figures raise questions about how the allocated funds have been disbursed, accounted for and translated into tangible construction work. The official budget records, disbursement statements and certified expenditure reports would be necessary to establish the exact financial position.
2. Allegations Concerning Project Monitoring and Financial Management
Concerns have also been raised about the management and monitoring of the project. Allegations include the submission of false progress reports and the improper justification or accounting of funds. These claims require independent investigation, including a review of progress reports, payment certificates, financial records and physical construction work completed on site.
3. Alleged Failure of Oversight by the Regional Roads Authority
The regional roads authority, identified as the project's counterpart institution, has been criticized for alleged delays and a failure to adequately oversee implementation.
According to the information provided, Lot 1 was scheduled for completion in October 2024. However, despite the passage of the planned completion date, the source alleges that no meaningful construction progress had been made.
The circumstances surrounding the missed deadline raise questions about contract enforcement, supervision, contractor performance and the accountability of the institutions responsible for delivering the project.
Latest Progress Report: April 2026
According to the latest progress report cited, dated April 2026, Lot 1 remained significantly behind its scheduled completion target.
Lot 1: Progress Status
Reported physical progress: 52.50%
Expected progress: 100%
Elapsed time: 62 months
The figures indicate a substantial gap between the reported physical progress and the project's scheduled completion target, despite 62 months having elapsed.
Engineers Question the Reported Progress Figures
Engineers with experience in road construction, who spoke to Jijiga News, expressed concern over the reported 52.50% progress for Lot 1. They described the figure as surprising, arguing that a project at this reported stage of completion would ordinarily be expected to be ready for asphalt paving. However, according to the engineers, even the sub-base and base-course layers had not been completed on Lot 1. These layers are essential stages in road construction and must generally be completed before the final asphalt surface can be laid.
The discrepancy between the reported progress percentage and the construction stages reportedly completed raises questions about how physical progress is being measured, verified and reported. Independent technical inspections and a review of the project's certified progress reports would be needed to clarify the situation.
Lot 2: Minimal Progress Reported
The same April 2026 progress report reportedly indicated that Lot 2 had achieved just 1.3% progress.
Six Years Later: Communities Continue to Face Serious Transport Challenges
Six years after the project's groundbreaking, the road project remains a major concern for communities in the surrounding areas, according to the account provided.
During the rainy season, poor road conditions can severely disrupt travel between parts of the Afder and Shabelle zones, sometimes leaving communities and settlements effectively cut off from one another. The current rainy season has again highlighted the difficulties caused by inadequate road infrastructure. Road users also face recurring risks of loss of life and property due to traffic accidents. Journeys over relatively short distances can take an exceptionally long time, restricting trade, limiting mobility and placing an additional burden on local communities.
Travelling the less-than-300-kilometre route between Hargelle-Gode can take approximately 12 hours under difficult road conditions. The consequences extend beyond inconvenience. Poor road connectivity restricts the movement of goods and people, increases transport costs, complicates access to essential services and undermines economic activity across the region.
The Gode–Hargelle Road Project was intended to improve connectivity and support economic and social development in the region. Its reported delays and the concerns surrounding its implementation warrant a transparent review of contractor performance, public expenditure and institutional oversight.
The communities that depend on this road deserve a clear account of what has been achieved, how public funds have been used and what concrete steps will be taken to deliver the project.
An experienced road construction engineer, who requested anonymity, told Jijiga news "The Gode–Hargelle Road Project raises serious questions about government accountability, contractor performance and the management of public funds. With billions of birr reportedly allocated, the public deserves transparent financial records and verifiable construction progress. The responsible authorities must explain the delays and hold contractors accountable for any confirmed failure to meet their contractual obligations.The communities of Afder and Shabelle cannot continue paying the price through dangerous roads, disrupted trade and limited connectivity. Public money demands public accountability, and the people deserve answers, responsibility and a road that is finally completed"
