By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
Residents of Benue State have expressed strong support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s infrastructure development agenda as a presidential media team concluded an inspection tour of key federal and state projects across the region on Thursday.
The delegation, led by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, inspected several ongoing and completed infrastructure projects, including the Buruku-Logo Bridge, the Wurukum Overhead Bridge in Makurdi, and the 22-kilometre Makurdi-Gboko Road, which forms part of the Phase II Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi Expressway.
The tour, organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors with over 40 editors and journalists in attendance, aims to independently assess and document the implementation of key projects under President Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking during the inspection, Onanuga emphasised that the Buruku-Logo Bridge is one of five federal bridges under construction in Benue State, demonstrating the administration’s commitment to utilising borrowed funds for productive infrastructure development.
“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,” Onanuga stated.
He noted that the 1,754-metre bridge, expected to be completed by December 2027, would reconnect previously isolated communities, reduce travel time, and improve market access for farmers across Benue, Taraba, and Adamawa states.
Residents of the host communities expressed appreciation for the projects, describing the bridge as a “life-saving intervention” that would end years of dangerous river crossings and reduce frequent boat accidents during rainy seasons.
The inspection also covered the 25.6-kilometre Captain Dan Road to the Tor Tiv Palace, the Food Basket Brewery Limited, and the federally-funded rehabilitation of the Buruku-Gboko Water Treatment Plant at Ameladu Headworks.
Benue State Deputy Governor, Dr Samuel Ode, who accompanied the team, commended the Federal Government’s investments and expressed confidence that residents would support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
“Actually, this road serves as the gateway between the north of the country and the south. Before now we used to have a heavy gridlock here especially during festivities, so the governor of Benue State approached Mr. President for us to have an overhead bridge here,” Ode said regarding the Wurukum Overhead Bridge project.
“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.”
The tour showcased projects financed through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, with officials assuring that funding remains adequate for timely completion.
