Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga has praised President Bola Tinubu for expanding infrastructure across the country, saying ongoing road projects are improving connectivity and reducing travel time between major cities.
Onanuga spoke during an inspection tour of the Makurdi–Otukpo–Obolo-Afor–Enugu dual carriageway by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Presidential Media Team.
The team, led by Onanuga, is inspecting completed and ongoing federal and state infrastructure projects across Benue State.
Speaking to journalists along the highway corridor, Onanuga described the expressway as a landmark project that would strengthen 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.
“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 said.
Onanuga said the highway would provide an important link between the North-Central and South-East regions.
“This road is linking the North Central and the South East for you,” he said.
According to him, improved road connectivity across the country would facilitate the movement of people and goods while strengthening interstate commerce.
“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,” he added.
Speaking on the project, the Federal Controller of Works in Benue State, Mukaila Danladi, said the 258-kilometre dual carriageway had been divided into five sections to facilitate construction.
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.
According to Danladi, about 178 kilometres of the highway fall within Benue State, while the section under inspection covers 50 kilometres on each carriageway, totalling 100 kilometres.
He said construction had progressed to about 86 kilometres of binder course on both carriageways, describing the achievement as significant despite weather-related challenges.
Danladi attributed the slower pace of work to the rainy season, noting that some earthworks could not be carried out under unfavourable weather conditions.
He, however, said construction had continued, with contractors focusing on hydraulic structures and drainage installations along the alignment pending improved weather conditions.
The controller reiterated the Federal Government’s assurance that the project would be completed within the 48-month contract period, with completion expected by December 2027.
Danladi recalled that the highway represents the second phase of the Abuja-Akwanga-Nasarawa-Makurdi corridor, extending the dualisation from Makurdi through Otukpo and Obollo-Afor to Enugu.
He said the project was being funded through a combination of a China EXIM Bank loan and Federal Government counterpart funding, with China Harbour Engineering Company executing the works.
The highway is expected to improve road safety, reduce travel time, facilitate the movement of agricultural produce and strengthen trade and economic integration across Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi and Enugu states.
