By Ijeoma Obioma, Makurdi.
Governors Nyesom Wike, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Seyi Makinde have inaugurated some projects executed by the administration of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State.
The four Governors, who are of the influential group of PDP G-5 inaugurated the various projects on Monday at separate locations in Makurdi the state capital.
The projects inaugurated include, five different roads, and electrification projects.
These roads include the 9.4 km Tse- Poor Apir Road renamed Ayua Num road executed at 1.2 billion and the 7.7km Yaikyo- Tse Poor Road, now Chief Sule Abenga Road at cost of 1.4 billion.
Others are the 2.0km George Akume-NKST Yina Road now to be known as Sen. JKN Waku road at the cost of 560.4 million as well as the 2.10 km Kaanga-Akaya-Lucy Aluor-Otukpo Road now named Nyesom Wike Road at the cost 809.088 million.
Also commissioned is the 1.3km Low Cost Housing Estate- Bambam Road, now named after a seasoned politician, Chief JC Obande executed at the cost of 379.399 million.
While Wike commissioned the Ayua Num Road and the 14km electrification project in Tse Poor-Mbanima substation and distribution acknowledged the importance of roads for its economic gains, saying, as an agricultural state, “If you don’t have roads to take your farm produce to the city, it makes no sense.
He added, “So, for this road and electrification, you have made life simple and easier for the people and that is what good governance is all about,” stressing that, “We want to say we are proud of you that you have made promises and today is a promise fulfilled,” Wike said.
Oyo State Governor, Engr. Makinde commended Governor Ortom, saying that “Anywhere road goes, development follows.”
Governor Ugwuanyi in his short speech before inuaguration of the JKN Waku Road, described Governor Ortom “as a gift to Benue”, stating that he had stood for his people.
In his words,the Enugu State Governor, Ugwuanyi after commissioning the road and electricity projects said, “Electricity is a strong enabler that drives economic development. Our expectation is that the people that live along this 14-kilometre that is covered by this project will be given impetus for greater economic growth.
The Commissioner for Works, Engr. Jude Uungwa, had earlier presented the projects for inauguration, stating that a good number of the road projects initiated by the Governor Ortom-led administration had been fully completed and some were at various stages of completion.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
