A group known as Young Idoma Professionals (YIP) has tasked the Benue State governor, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia, to be fair in awarding contracts for the well-publicised 500-kilometre roads billed to be constructed in the state soon.
The group made its feelings known in a statement jointly signed by its convener, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson; convener, Okpani Mike Odeh Akatu and member, Okpani Dickson Elaigwu, and made available to journalists yesterday.
The group was reacting to publications, which showed that the Benue State government had secured a €25 million grant from the European Investment Bank to construct 500-kilometre roads across the state.
The statement said the state coordinator of the Benue Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, Stephen Numbeve, had disclosed that all the administrative procedures had been completed and that the agency would commence work once the fund was disbursed.
It quoted the RAAMP coordinator as saying the road designs for 300 kilometres of roads have been completed, while works for the remaining 200 kilometres are ongoing.
YIP, therefore, tasked the Benue State government with ensuring an equitable distribution of road projects across the state, especially in the Benue South Senatorial District known as Zone ‘C’.
“We have been watching keenly with dismay that Zone C has been relegated in the scheme of things in the state, which shouldn’t be so.
“As such, we demand at least 40 per cent of those roads be constructed with the expected loan in Zone C,” the statement said.
“Although we are yet to see the list of the roads earmarked, we are warning that any attempt to shortchange Zone C will be resisted through every available legal means,” the group pointed out.
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