Minister of works Engr. David Umahi has ordered immediate deployment of the ministry’s personnel and the maintenance team of China Harbour Operations and Maintenance Company, concessionaire for the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi road, to bring effective and permanent solution to flood disturbances along the road.
The directive followed the flooding that occurred along the Lafia-Makurdi road which severely disrupted traffic flow on June 18, 2025.
The minister in a statement by his special adviser on media, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, condemned the negligence by the concessionaire whose duty under the Highways Development Management Initiative (HDMI) of the federal government is to operate and maintain the road.
He said, “We have got information on the unfortunate flooding of a section of Keffi-Makurdi road which is under HDMI, that is, a PPP with China Harbour. We know that the project has been completed and it is tolled, but unfortunately yesterday there was a lot of debris that covered an existing culvert there and that led to flooding but in the midst of that rain we deployed our ministry personnel in Makurdi and the China Harbour personnel and they had to go to the inlet of the culvert and remove all the debris and the flood has been totally evacuated.”
The minister directed the concessionaire to critically assess the primary cause, provide a permanent solution to flooding along the carriageway and take all steps necessary to prevent future occurrence.
He said, “We apologise very profusely to Mr. President and Nigerians for the embarrassment, this unfortunate incident caused him and Nigerians.”
He commended the president for his fatherly intervention in the unfortunate incident in Benue State.
“We also commend Mr. President very highly for his fatherly role in Benue State. His visit there has made a lot of impact on the lives of the people of Benue State and everyone living in that place. With God on his side, Benue people shall see sustainable peace and progress.”
The minister speaking during the courtesy visit of the managing director/CEO of Citibank Nigeria Ltd, Nneka Enwereji, highlighted some of the initiatives of federal government under the present administration to improve the quantity and quality of the road assets in Nigeria, especially the initiative to construct the four Renewed Hope Legacy Projects which are critical road infrastructure necessary for the economic advancement of the nation.
