…— As presidential media team inspects federal, state projects
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja
Jubilant Benue residents on Thursday promised to vote massively for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections to show appreciation for his infrastructural drive, especially the expansion of connectivity through strategic road and bridge projects.
This came as the Presidential Media Team, in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, inspected key federal and Benue State government infrastructure projects across the state.
The inspection covered the ongoing Buruku-Logo Bridge, the Wurukum Overhead Bridge in Makurdi, the 22-kilometre Makurdi–Gboko Road, and major state projects, including the completed High-Level Roundabout Interchange in Makurdi and the Gboko underpass and interchange.
The Makurdi–Gboko Road forms part of Phase II of the Abuja–Keffi–Akwanga–Lafia–Makurdi Expressway, a strategic corridor linking North Central Nigeria with the South-East. It is expected to be completed by December 2027.
The Renewed Hope Ambassadors’ national media tour, which includes over 40 editors and journalists, is designed to independently assess, document and showcase the implementation and impact of key federal and state government projects under President Tinubu’s administration.
The delegation was led by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.
Speaking during the inspection, Onanuga said the Buruku-Logo Bridge is one of five federal government bridges under construction in Benue State and demonstrates the administration’s commitment to investing borrowed funds in productive infrastructure.
He said the project would reconnect previously isolated communities, reduce travel time, improve access to markets for farmers and strengthen economic integration across Benue, Taraba and Adamawa states.
According to him, the projects are being financed through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, and he assured that funding remains adequate for timely completion.
Onanuga, in a statement by Tunde Rahman, Director of Media and Publicity, RHA, was quoted as saying: “This bridge in particular is the fifth bridge the federal government is building in Benue State. I think as Nigerians you see that the government has been accused of so many things, including taking loans.
“You can now see where the money is going. It is to develop infrastructure, to link people who have been forgotten before, to make sure that at least commerce flows freely.
“Farmers can get their products straight to the market, and they can shorten the travel time between one community and another, especially between the rural areas and the capital.
“You can see that this one where we are now, the one in Buruku, is going to affect three states — Taraba, Adamawa and Benue — and of course it means benefits for Nigeria.”
The team also inspected the ongoing 25.6-kilometre Captain Dan Road from Lubona Junction to the Tor Tiv Palace, the Food Basket Brewery Limited in Makurdi, and the federal government-funded rehabilitation of the Buruku–Gboko Water Treatment Plant at Ameladu Headworks, one of the state’s largest water infrastructure projects.
A major highlight of the tour was the inspection of the 1,754-metre Buruku-Logo Bridge. The project links agrarian communities across the River Benue, provides access to neighbouring Taraba State and is expected to boost agriculture, commerce and regional integration. The contractor also employs more than 50 workers from the host community.
Residents expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for prioritising infrastructure that addresses longstanding transportation challenges.
They described the bridge as a life-saving intervention that would end years of dangerous river crossings and improve the livelihoods of surrounding communities.
They also expect the bridge, on completion, to eliminate frequent boat accidents experienced during the rainy season while creating employment opportunities for local youths engaged on the project.
Many residents also pledged continued support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, saying the visible impact of ongoing projects had renewed public confidence in the federal government.
Speaking with journalists, the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ode, said the state remained grateful for the federal government’s infrastructure investments and expressed confidence that the people would strongly support President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
He described the ongoing Wurukum Overhead Bridge as a critical intervention on the Abuja–Lafia–Makurdi–Enugu corridor, noting that the junction had for years been notorious for severe traffic congestion, particularly during festive periods.
According to him, President Tinubu approved the project following a request by Governor Hyacinth Alia, and construction is progressing rapidly.
The Deputy Governor also highlighted the state government’s investment in the Makurdi Central Interchange and underpass, describing it as a transformative project that connects key routes linking Government House, the central business district, Wurukum and the Abuja–Enugu highway, while significantly improving traffic flow within the state capital.
“Actually, this road serves as the gateway between the north of the country and the south. Before now we used to have heavy gridlock here, especially during festivities, so the governor of Benue State approached Mr. President for us to have an overhead bridge here.
“The President, in his magnanimity, graciously approved the construction of this overhead bridge. So work has commenced, moving at a very high speed, and the people of Benue are happy because we used to experience quite a lot of difficulties at this point.”
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