By Aloysius Umalo, Makurdi
The Benue State Bureau of Special Projects has announced the award of contracts for the construction of over thirty rural and township roads in various Communities in the state.
During an interview with Voice of Nigeria in Makurdi, the Director General, Bureau of Special Projects, Engineer Professor Gabriel Akpen, revealed that the road projects consist of nine rural and twenty-three township roads that are currently at different stages of completion.
Professor Akpen highlighted specific rural roads, such as the Branch Atser / Korinya / Wuese road in Vandeikya and Konshisha Local Governments, where the state government is funding the entire project.
He explained a funding formula where local governments are expected to provide forty percent of the total project cost, with the state covering the remaining sixty percent.
Several other rural roads, including the Ikpenger road in Gboko Local Government, the Awajir to Oju road in Gwer East, the Igumal / Agila road, the Ushongo to Gbem road, the Ubagaji to Okokolo to Agagbe road, the Daudu to Gbajimba road, and the Sankera to Chito Vaase road in Ukum Local Government, awarded to a military construction firm are also under construction.
For township roads, Professor Akpen said two are being constructed in Gboko, with one completed (Ikese street) and the second ongoing.
Professor Akpen noted however that excessive rainfall had caused delays in completing the contracts for these roads.
According to him, the cost of the Gboko roads totaled 3.69 billion Naira, while the 21 Makurdi township roads, also at varying stages of completion, were awarded at a total cost of 48.33 billion Naira.
Aside from road projects, the Bureau he said is coordinating infrastructural development in the state, including construction and renovation of various buildings.
These projects he explained are based on the felt needs of the communities rather than imposed by the government.
He lamented that funding remains a significant challenge for the state government, with communal clashes between the people of Konshisha and Oju Local Governments and security concerns further complicating project execution.
Professor Akpen emphasized the importance of partnerships with external bodies to attract funds for developmental projects.
On its legacy, he maintained that Bureau aims to be known for executing quality projects with integrity and assured the public of more interventions and people-oriented projects by the administration to alleviate poverty and economic hardship.
