Increased Federal Allocation Driving Benue’s Infrastructure Renewal – Alia

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has linked the renewed pace of infrastructural development and the revitalisation of key economic assets in the state, including the historic Taraku Mills, to increased federal allocations accruing to Benue under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The governor spoke when members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors National Media Tour, led by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, concluded inspection of major federal and Benue state governments’ projects across the state.

The delegation, comprising more than 40 editors and journalists, is touring projects to independently assess, document and showcase the implementation and impact of key federal and state governments’ projects under the Tinubu administration.

Speaking during a media chat with the team, Governor Alia commended President Tinubu for creating a fiscal environment that has enabled the state to undertake more capital projects, pay salaries and pensions, strengthen critical infrastructure and revive moribund economic assets.

Governor Alia said the increased resources had strengthened the state’s capacity to address its infrastructure deficit while investing in projects capable of stimulating economic growth, creating jobs and improving livelihoods.

According to a statement by the director information of the renewed Hope ambassadors, Tunde Rahman, the governor particularly cited the ongoing rehabilitation of Taraku Mills in Gwer East local government area as a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to restoring Benue’s industrial base and converting the state’s agricultural advantage into economic prosperity.

Established in 1989 during the administration of the late Governor Aper Aku, Taraku Mills was once a major agro-processing facility producing vegetable oil, animal feeds and other agro-allied products. The state government has commenced rehabilitation and maintenance works towards restoring the facility to productive use.

According to the governor, the revival of the mill will strengthen the agricultural value chain by providing a ready market for farmers, particularly soybean producers, while creating jobs and stimulating economic activity in surrounding communities.

He said the administration’s vision goes beyond repairing old infrastructure to creating an integrated system in which farmers produce, industries process and markets distribute finished products, beginning with financial grants to smallholder and other farmers across the state.

Governor Alia also stressed the importance of prudent management of increased federal resources, saying the resources must be deployed for the common good.

He also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the federal government’s investment in road infrastructure across Benue and the wider North-Central region.

The media team inspected the ongoing Lafia Bypass and the dualisation of the 250.627-kilometre Section II of the Makurdi–Otukpo–9th Mile (Enugu) road, a strategic corridor linking Nasarawa, Benue and Enugu states.
The project is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Works and executed by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).

Governor Alia described the corridor as particularly important to Benue, Nigeria’s food basket, saying improved road connectivity would facilitate the movement of agricultural produce to major markets, reduce transportation costs and strengthen regional trade.

The team also inspected the 52-kilometre Awajir–Oju Road, a major Benue State Government’s intervention, cutting across Gwer East, Konshisha and Oju local government areas.

He commended President Tinubu for the federal government’s commitment to completing major road projects across the country, describing the Lafia Bypass–9th Mile (Enugu)–Otukpo–Makurdi corridor as transformative infrastructure with significant implications for commerce, agriculture, mobility and regional integration.

The governor thanked the media team for physically inspecting projects rather than relying solely on reports and statistics, saying the exercise would give Nigerians a first-hand view of the impact of the Renewed Hope agenda at the grassroots.

Earlier, the team leader, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, commended the developmental strides of the Benue State Government, particularly the ongoing federal and state road projects along the Benue–Enugu corridor.

“When completed, this road, all the way to Enugu State, will be a road that will last for a very long time. I think the important thing, what I’ve seen so far, is that even though we have not even completed this road, it has shortened the travel time between Makurdi and Oturkpo, which is on the route.”

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Engagement, Fredrick Nwabufo, said the team was in Benue to provide Nigerians with first-hand information on the pace of development.

The delegation also inspected the Otobi Waterworks in Otukpo Local Government Area.

The Director of Urban Water Supply and Quality Control, supervising the Benue State Water Board, Juliet Maka, said the facility supplies Otukpo, Otobi and surrounding communities.

The Renewed Hope Ambassadors National Media Team’s inspection in Benue is part of its wider assessment of ongoing federal and state governments’ projects and their impact on citizens.