Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga has praised President Bola Tinubu for expanding infrastructure across Nigeria.
Onanuga spoke during an inspection of the Makurdi–Otukpo–Obolo-Affor–Enugu dual carriageway by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Presidential Media Team. The team is inspecting completed and ongoing federal and state projects in Benue.
He described the road as a major project that will improve connectivity, trade and national integration.
He said, “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 added, “This road is linking the North Central and the South East for you. 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, Mukaila Danladi, said the 258-kilometre road was split into five sections and passes through Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi and Enugu.
About 178 kilometres are in Benue, while the inspected section covers 100 kilometres across both carriageways. Work has reached about 86 kilometres of binder course.
Danladi blamed slower progress on the rainy season but said drainage and hydraulic works were continuing. He said completion remains scheduled for December 2027 under the 48-month contract.
The project is the second phase of the Abuja-Akwanga-Nasarawa-Makurdi corridor and is funded by a China EXIM Bank loan and federal counterpart funding. China Harbour Engineering Company is handling construction.
The highway is expected to improve safety, cut travel time, ease movement of farm produce and boost trade.
