By Soni Daniel SOMETHING positive appears to be stirring in Benue State. For a state long associated with insecurity, deaths, abandoned infrastructure and economic hardship, a new narrative of roads, bridges, industries and improved healthcare is beginning to emerge, with residents expressing renewed optimism over the direction of the state. Across communities visited recently, one phrase has become almost a refrain: “Our Governor is working.” And, almost immediately, another line follows: “Our President is working.” The refrain, according to observations across the state, reflects growing public attention to projects being executed by the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu. The emerging development story is being driven largely by what officials describe as stronger cooperation between the state and federal governments. From the Wurukum flyover and Makurdi underpass to the Oju-Awajir Road, Buruku Bridge, Makurdi-Otukpo-Obollo-Afor-Enugu highway, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, and industrial projects, the administration appears determined to change the state’s infrastructure and economic landscape. Indeed, the work of the governor and the president are vivid. This new slate of performance in the different strata of the state’s life, has opened what looks like a new way for the citizens to feel good. For instance, broken bridges are being rebuilt, agelong abandoned factories brimming with life again while new factories that provide enormous employment opportunities are churning out precious goods and services. All these have happened because of the new thinking that Governor Alia has brought to the state since he was elected over three years ago. The governor is happy to have done these things because of the unprecedented, active and sustained increased financial support he is getting from the Tinubu administration. Projects changing Makurdi In Makurdi, the state capital, the high-level underpass and the monumental Wurukum flyover have become major symbols of the administration’s urban renewal drive. The projects are expected to ease traffic congestion, improve connectivity and reduce the difficulties residents have endured for years. Beyond aesthetics, the projects are strategic because they intersect with major federal highways, linking communities within the state to other parts of the country. The Oju-Awajir Road is another major intervention. The road has opened access to communities in Gwer East, Konshisha and Oju Local Government Areas, removing what residents describe as a longstanding barrier to movement and economic activities. N20bn hospital investment The health sector is also receiving attention. The state government says it has invested more than N20 billion in the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, which has begun offering specialised medical services and attracting patients from within and outside the state. The Chief Medical Director of BSUTH, Dr Stephen Terungwa Hwande, said the hospital now has some of the best facilities in Nigeria. Hwande praised Alia for putting the hospital on the global map through the provision of high-tech equipment designed to improve medical services and productivity. The government is also investing in the regeneration of the Otobi Water Treatment Plant in Otukpo to expand access to clean water. Buruku Bridge: A lifeline for farmers Perhaps one of the most significant Federal Government projects in the state is the Buruku Bridge across the Katsina-Ala River. The bridge is expected to connect Katsina-Ala with yam-producing communities in Buruku, Katsina-Ala, Logo and Ukum Local Government Areas and parts of Taraba State. For years, the absence of a permanent bridge across the river has restricted movement and commerce, with farmers and traders forced to depend on boats to cross the river. The project, now nearing completion, is therefore being seen as more than a transportation infrastructure. It could become a major economic lifeline for one of Nigeria’s leading food-producing regions. Major foundations and supporting beams have been completed, while final bridge structures are being assembled. 258km highway takes shape The Federal Government is also constructing and dualising the 258-kilometre Makurdi-Otukpo-Obollo-Afor-Enugu Highway, one of the country’s key transportation corridors. The highway is expected to strengthen the connection between northern agricultural communities and southern commercial centres. Funding is being provided by the China Exim Bank and the Nigerian government. The Benue State Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Mukaila Danladi, said the project, which commenced in 2023, is expected to be completed and handed over in December 2027. According
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