Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved and directed immediate fund release for the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano, Lagos-Ibadan Highways, and the second Niger Bridge two bypass projects. 

This initiative aims to eliminate financial constraints on these projects, ensuring swift completion. Umahi made these remarks during the inspection of the Lafia Bypass Road and Dualisation of the 9th Mile (Enugu)-Otukpo-Makurdi Road Project in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State. The 260-kilometer project spans the Southeast of Nigeria, funded collaboratively with 85 percent from the Export-Import Bank of Nigeria and 15 percent from the federal government. China Harbour Nigeria Limited is set to oversee and deliver the project within 48 months.

After examining the Mararaba-Keffi project, the minister expressed gratitude to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia and his Enugu State counterpart Peter Mbah for establishing taskforce committees to ensure site security. He stated, “We are from Abuja to Mararaba to Keffi, that is an ongoing project of dualization and it is 43km, it is being done with NNPC funding, whatever impeded the funding, graciously, God lifted it, and the president has approved in all zones of the country, that the job should go ahead.”

Umahi emphasized the need for a flyover at the project site to ease traffic, stating, “So, the road from Keffi to Makurdi has been completed, and we are going to toll it. But for some modifications, we have asked the China Harbour Engineering Company to provide the service station. The plazas are not beautiful, and I told them to make them beautiful like we have in China.”

Regarding the funding, Umahi mentioned, “The funding for the project comes from China Exim Bank, and the project is denominated in dollars.” Governor Alia praised the president for his benevolence, stating, “We are very grateful to God for giving us this opportunity. We have always prayed for a new Benue of our dream where anything we touch gets a magnet, efficiency, effectiveness, and done. We thank Mr. President for his thoughtfulness and good heart for the common masses.”