Tinubu deserves praise for works across Nigeria – Onanuga

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Bayo Onanuga

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Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga has said that President Bola Tinubu deserves praise for expanding infrastructure across the country.

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Onanuga stated this during an inspection tour of the Makurdi–Otukpo–Obolo-Affor–Enugu dual carriageway by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Presidential Media Team.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team led by Onanuga is being conducted round completed and ongoing federal and state infrastructure projects across Benue State.

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Speaking to newsmen along the corridor, Onanuga described the expressway as a landmark project that would strengthen connectivity, boost commerce and foster national integration.

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“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.

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“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.

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“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 said.

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Onanuga added: “This road is linking the North Central and the South East for you.

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“If you are able to link all parts of Nigeria, it shows you that we are improving the connectivity across our states.

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“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”.

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Speaking on the project, the Federal Controller of Works, Benue State, Mukaila Danladi, said the 258-kilometre dual carriageway had been divided into five sections to facilitate construction.

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He explained that the project traverses Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi and Enugu states, forming a strategic transport corridor linking major economic and commercial centres across the regions.

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According to the controller, about 178 kilometres of the highway fall within Benue, while the section under inspection covers 50 kilometres on each carriageway, totalling 100 kilometres.

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Danladi said construction had progressed to about 86 kilometres of binder course on both carriageways, describing the achievement as significant in spite of prevailing weather-related challenges.

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He attributed the slower pace of work to the rainy season, noting that some earthworks could not be undertaken under unfavourable weather conditions common during construction.

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The controller, however, said work had not stopped, with contractors concentrating on hydraulic structures and drainage installations along the alignment pending improved weather conditions.

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He reiterated the Federal Government’s assurance that the project would be delivered within the 48-month contract period, with completion expected by December 2027.

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Danladi recalled that the highway is the second phase of the Abuja-Akwanga-Nasarawa-Makurdi corridor, extending the dualisation from Makurdi through Otukpo and Obollo-Afor to Enugu.

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He said the project is funded through a combination of the China EXIM Bank loan and Federal Government counterpart funding, while China Harbour Engineering Company is executing the works.

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NAN reports that the highway is expected to improve road safety, reduce travel time, ease movement of agricultural produce and strengthen trade and economic integration across the affected states.

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(NAN)

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