From Scholastic Onyeka, Makurdi
Members of the G-5 Governors, Rivers state Nyesom Wike, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu and Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, have commissioned five new roads and electricity projects of Governor Samuel Ortom in Benue state.
The roads include the 9.4 km Tse- Poor Apir road named Ayua Num road executed at 1.2 billion and the 7.7km Yaikyo- Tse Poor road, now Chief Sule Abenga road constructed at cost of 1.4 billion.
Other roads also include the 2.0km George Akume-NKST Yina road now Sen. JKN Waku road constructed at the cost of 560.4 million and also the 2.10 km Kaanga-Akaya-Lucy Aluor-Otukpo road now named Nyesom Wike Road constructed at the cost 809.088 million.
The 1.3km Low Cost Housing Estate- Bambam road, now Chief JC Obande executed at the cost of 379.399 million was also commissioned amidst cheers from members of the Benue community.
The governors commended Governor Ortom for his efforts and said it will ease movement of people, goods and services in the state.
Wike who also commissioned 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,”.
Oyo State Governor, Engr. Makinde commended Governor Ortom, saying that “Anywhere road goes, development also follows.”
Governor Ugwuanyi in his short speech before commissioning the JKN Waku Road described Governor Ortom “as a gift to Benue” stating that he has stood for his people.
In the words of 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.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Works, Engr Jude Uungwa had presented the projects for commissioning stating that a good number of the road projects initiated by the Governor Ortom-led administration have been fully completed and some were at various stages of completion.