The Presidency has said the gains recorded under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda will continue after his re-election in January 2027, citing visible infrastructure projects in Benue State as proof of impact.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Strategic Communications, Frederick Nwabufo, stated this on Friday during an inspection of key federal and Benue State government projects organised by the Presidential Media Team and the Renewed Hope Ambassadors.
His remarks were in response to critics who claim there are no signs of the Renewed Hope Agenda on the ground.
He said the inspections showed the Renewed Hope Agenda is delivering across sectors.
“We are here in Benue State. This is the third day, and particularly in reference to a particular sojourner who said there are no signs of renewed hope anywhere. You journalists, have been here with us. You can see the signs everywhere, on the roads, in health, in education, across all sectors; the signs are very visible,” Nwabufo said.
“We are not just reclining in armchairs; we are on the ground inspecting these projects unscheduled, and you can see that. So, the gains of renewed hope will continue as Mr. President is re-elected in January 2027.”
The delegation inspected Section One and Section Two of the construction of the Lafia Bypass and the dualisation of the Makurdi to Ninth Mile Road.
The Federal Controller of Works in Benue State, Engr. Mukaila Danladi, said the road traverses Benue, Kogi and Enugu States.
“The total length is 250 kilometres, which becomes 500 kilometres on a dual carriageway. For ease of construction, it was divided into five sections.
“Sections four and five fall in Enugu State, while one, two and three fall in Benue State. This section where we are is 50 kilometres, and the 50 kilometers is multiplied by two. That’s 100 kilometres. As you can see, we have covered about 86 kilometres up to binder course level,” Danladi said.
He attributed the slow pace to the rainy season but said hydraulic structures are ongoing.
He added that the Minister of Works changed the design from surface-dressed shoulders to hard shoulders for durability.
The Project Manager, Engr. Tijani Olalekan Babatunde of China Harbour Engineering Company, said 56 kilometers of binder course have been completed on both sides in Section One.
“In Section Two, from Aliade to Otukpo, 72.6 kilometers have reached wearing course level.
“The completion period is 48 months, so that means by 1st of February 2028. But the Honourable Minister has directed that contractors increase the pace. We may likely complete by December 2027,” Babatunde said.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, who also spoke during the inspection, said the quality was impressive.
“Even though we have not even completed this road, it has shortened the travel time between Makurdi and Otukpo. I learnt before it used to take about three hours, but now just about one and a half hours. This is a commendable project, and I think President Tinubu deserves applause for touching almost every part of Nigeria,” he said.
“I said the road is impressive on its own, and if you are able to link all parts of Nigeria, it shows you that we are improving the connectivity across our states, and of course, what it will boost is not just passenger traffic, also business traffic, to be able to move goods across all the state borders.”
At Taraku Mills, the Chief Press Secretary to the Benue State Governor, Mr Kula Tersoo, said the N70 billion factory established during the Aper Aku administration had been moribund since the mid-1990s but was revived by Governor Hyacinth Alia.
“The machines are undergoing test run. They were serviced. The people of this area guided this factory jealously. No pin got missing until Father Alia came and decided to revamp the company,” Tersoo said.
The Plant Manager, Engr. James Twenge, said the mill has over 2,000 direct and indirect workers.
“We have the oil division and the maize and feeds mills division. The maize plant can process 72,000 metric tons per annum. The feed mill can process 172,300 metric tons per annum. In the oil mill, we have a mechanical press line of 200 metric tons per day and a solvent extraction plant of 320 metric tons per day. Within the next two months, we will have products coming out,” he said.
Tersoo linked the revival to federal economic reforms.
“Where is that money coming from? If the economy is not improved, you wouldn’t have gotten that money. We appreciate Mr President for making Nigeria work again and for giving the governor the support to fulfil his promises.”
The team also inspected the 52-kilometre Oju-Awaji Road, a state project linking three local governments.
DG, Bureau of Special Projects, Engr. Gabriel Akpen, said the road, last constructed in 1982, was in total disrepair.
“We started from there. Several kilometres ahead, the work has been completed. We have completed 19 kilometres with asphalt. In the next six or seven months, the entire stretch will be completed,” he said.
Chairmen of Konshisha and Gwer East LGAs said economic activities have peaked and commuters are now happy plying the road.
At the Otobi Waterworks, Director of Urban Water Supply, Juliet Maka, said the scheme built in 2012 was abandoned for years but was rehabilitated in September 2023 under Governor Alia.
“The system here is 10,000 cubic metres per day. We are operating a
t full capacity. Otukpo town and the Otobi community are benefiting,” she said.
