Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga has said President Bola Tinubu deserves commendation for expanding infrastructure development across the country.
Onanuga made the remark during an inspection of the Makurdi–Otukpo–Obolo-Afor–Enugu dual carriageway by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Presidential Media Team.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team, led by Onanuga, is touring completed and ongoing federal and state infrastructure projects in Benue State.
Speaking to journalists along the route, Onanuga described the expressway as a landmark project that will enhance connectivity, boost commerce, and promote national integration.
“From what we have seen so far, even though we have not even completed this road, it has shortened the travel time between Makurdi and Otukpo,” he said.
“From what I gathered, the road was so bad that from Makurdi to Otukpo it used to take about three hours. But now, just about one and a half hours or so, we are in Otukpo.
“So, this is a commendable project and I think President Bola Tinubu deserves a lot of applause for touching almost every part of Nigeria, giving them one road or bridge or one infrastructure or the other.”
He added that the road links the North Central and South East regions. “If you are able to link all parts of Nigeria, it shows you that we are improving the connectivity across our states.
"This will no doubt boost, not just passenger traffic, also business as people will be able to move goods across all the borders, all the state borders.”
Federal Controller of Works in Benue State, Mukaila Danladi, said the 258-kilometre dual carriageway has been divided into five sections to speed up construction.
The project cuts across Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, and Enugu states, creating a strategic corridor that connects major economic and commercial centres.About 178 kilometres of the highway lie within Benue.
The section under inspection covers 50 kilometres on each carriageway, making a total of 100 kilometres. Construction has reached about 86 kilometres of binder course on both sides, a significant milestone despite weather challenges.
Danladi attributed the slower pace to the rainy season, which has limited earthworks. Contractors are currently focusing on hydraulic structures and drainage systems while waiting for better weather.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to completing the project within the 48-month contract period, with an expected finish date of December 2027.
The highway forms the second phase of the Abuja-Akwanga-Nasarawa-Makurdi corridor and extends dualisation from Makurdi through Otukpo and Obollo-Afor to Enugu.
It is funded through a China EXIM Bank loan and Federal Government counterpart funding, with China Harbour Engineering Company as the contractor.
Once completed, the road is expected to improve safety, cut travel time, ease the movement of agricultural produce, and strengthen trade and economic ties among the affected states.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com