SPOTLIGHTS
- YIP demands 40% of the 500km road project be located in Zone C
- The group cites concerns about historical marginalisation of the zone
- They warn of legal action if their demands are not met
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
A group, the Young Idoma Professionals (YIP), has tasked the Benue State Governor, Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia, to be fair and just in awarding contracts for the well-publicised 500km of roads billed to be constructed in the state soon.
The group appealed that at least 40% of the roads to be constructed should be in the Zone C senatorial district of the state.
This was expressed in a statement jointly signed by its conveners, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, Okpani Mike Odeh Akatu, and member Okpani Dickson Elaigwu, made available to journalists in Kaduna at the weekend.
Read also: Benue: Alia flags off multimillion naira road construction in Makurdi metropolis
The group was reacting to publications stating that the Benue State Government has secured €25 million from the European Investment Bank to construct 500km of roads across the state.
Stephen Numbeve, the State Coordinator of the Benue Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), disclosed this in Makurdi on Thursday.
Numbeve said, “All the administrative procedures have been completed, and the agency would commence work once the fund is disbursed.”
The RAAMP coordinator said the road designs for 300km of roads have been completed, while work on the remaining 200km is ongoing.
The Young Professionals, therefore, tasked the Benue State Government to ensure the equitable distribution of road projects across the state.
“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,” the statement said.
“As such, we demand at least 40 per cent of those roads to be constructed with the expected loan be in Zone C.
“Although we are yet to see the list of the roads earmarked, we are sounding a note of warning that any attempts to shortchange Zone C will be resisted through every available legal means.”