Bobby Nasution Builds Sipiongot Road After 81 Years
The construction of roads in the Sipiongot area, North Padang Lawas Regency, marks a turning point for a community that has lived in isolation for decades. After 81 years of minimal infrastructure development, previously muddy and impassable access routes are now being opened, providing new hope for economic improvement and residents’ welfare.
This change prompted the Sipiongot community to hold an ‘upah-upah’ (traditional thanksgiving ceremony) for North Sumatra Governor Bobby Afif Nasution at the residence of North Sumatra DPRD Deputy Speaker Ihwan Ritonga in the Menteng Indah Complex, Medan, on Sunday, 28 June 2026. The event was held in conjunction with a religious gathering of the Dolok Sipiongot and Surrounding Areas Family Association (IKDS).
Deputy Speaker Ihwan Ritonga stated that the current development is a significant momentum for Sipiongot, which had not experienced comprehensive road construction for decades. “During my 12 years in the DPRD, I have continuously overseen this issue. Previously, it was built little by little, two kilometres, five kilometres, but it was never completed. Now, the road connecting isolated areas is being handled seriously,” he said.
He explained that the North Sumatra Provincial Government has allocated a budget of approximately Rp283 billion for the construction and repair of 13 road sections in the Sipiongot area and its surroundings. According to him, the impact of the development is already being felt by the community as mobility becomes easier and opportunities for economic growth open up. “This area used to be called underdeveloped. Now, people feel cared for and have new hope for the future,” he stated.
During a dialogue with the community, several village heads recounted the difficult conditions they experienced before the development. The Head of Janji Manahan Village, Ali Mutarman Dalimunthe, recalled his childhood when he had to walk carrying crops through muddy roads to the market. “I was born in 1980. When I was in sixth grade, going to Sipiongot Market meant walking while carrying the harvest. The road was muddy and very difficult to traverse,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Siburbur Village, Sahbuddin Ritonga, revealed that residents had to travel up to three hours just to reach a traditional market located about five kilometres away. These conditions increased agricultural distribution costs and lowered the selling price of commodities, including palm oil, compared to other regions.
Responding to the community’s appreciation, Governor Bobby Afif Nasution asserted that building roads is the government’s duty, not something to be excessively praised. However, he admitted to a lasting impression from his first direct inspection of Sipiongot’s conditions. “I passed through at two in the morning. In the middle of the road, our vehicle got stuck, and we slept in the forest. It was the first time since becoming a regional head that I saw a village condition that made me cry on the spot,” Bobby revealed.
Bobby stressed that the Sipiongot road construction is a commitment that must be completed during his leadership so that no region is left behind in development. “The Sipiongot road is built because the community needs it. There should be no more terms like underdeveloped regions or areas that seem to be left off the development map,” he asserted. In addition to building road infrastructure, Bobby also promised to prepare scholarship programmes for the youth of Sipiongot to provide them with greater opportunities to continue their education.