The Alia Tinubu synergy is emerging as a major feature of development efforts in Benue State, with federal and state-backed projects spanning roads, bridges, healthcare, water and industrialisation. The development comes as Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration continues to work with the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu on infrastructure and economic projects across the state.
Among the prominent projects are the Wurukum flyover and Makurdi underpass, Oju-Awajir Road, Buruku Bridge, the 258-kilometre Makurdi-Otukpo-Obollo-Afor-Enugu highway and investments in the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH).
In Makurdi, the state capital, the high-level underpass and Wurukum flyover are central to the government’s urban renewal programme. The projects are expected to improve traffic flow and connectivity while linking communities to major transportation corridors. The Oju-Awajir Road has also opened access to communities across Gwer East, Konshisha and Oju Local Government Areas, with the project expected to support movement and economic activities.
The state government has additionally invested more than N20 billion in BSUTH, which has commenced specialised medical services. The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Dr Stephen Terungwa Hwande, praised Alia for providing high-tech equipment and improving the hospital’s capacity. The state is also regenerating the Otobi Water Treatment Plant in Otukpo as part of efforts to expand access to clean water.
The Federal Government’s Buruku Bridge project across the Katsina-Ala River is another major intervention. The bridge is expected to connect Katsina-Ala with farming communities in Buruku, Katsina-Ala, Logo and Ukum local government areas, as well as parts of Taraba State.
For years, residents and traders depended on boats to cross the river, limiting movement and commercial activities. With the bridge nearing completion, authorities expect it to strengthen transportation and agricultural trade. Meanwhile, construction and dualisation of the 258-kilometre Makurdi-Otukpo-Obollo-Afor-Enugu Highway is progressing.
Benue State Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Mukaila Danladi, said the project, which began in 2023, is expected to be completed and handed over in December 2027. Funding is being provided by China Exim Bank and the Nigerian government through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund.
Alia’s administration is also pursuing industrial projects, including the Food Basket Brewery and efforts to revive the moribund Taraku Mill. The governor said a partnership had been secured to restore the soybean-processing facility, while a fruit concentrate plant is also expected to commence operations. Alia said the state must prioritise projects capable of creating jobs and adding value to residents.
“We have to set our priorities right and come out with a blueprint that is implementable to add value to the people we serve,” he said.
Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also defended government borrowing for infrastructure, saying the critical issue was how borrowed funds were utilised.
“As Nigerians, we see that the government has been accused of borrowing money. But we can also see where the money is going: to develop infrastructure, link people who had been forgotten, ensure commerce flows freely and enable farmers to move their produce straight to the markets,” Onanuga said.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the progress of these projects could influence perceptions of the Alia and Tinubu administrations. Whether that development translates into electoral support, however, will ultimately depend on how residents assess the projects and their impact on daily life.
