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SEVERAL federal road projects across Benue are progressing steadily, with contractors actively working on key corridors.
Mr Mukaila Danladi, Federal Controller of Works in Benue, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Makurdi.
Danladi also said that efforts were underway to secure approvals and mobilise contractors for other critical road projects in the state.
According to him, construction work on the dualisation of the Makurdi–Otukpo–Ninth Mile–Enugu Road is advancing at a satisfactory pace.
He stated that the contractor was on site and had recorded significant progress on the project.
He said the road project was about 250 kilometres long, adding that work had reached the layer before asphalt on about 150 kilometres of the road, while the final asphalt surface had already been completed on about 87 kilometres.
“The project is progressing steadily, and we are almost through with significant sections of the road,” he said.
The Controller also provided updates on the overhead bridge project, noting that the structure had attained substantial completion.
He explained that all major components, including piles, piers and other structural elements, had been completed.
“The remaining task is the launching of the bridge superstructure onto the completed supports before final finishing and commissioning,” he added.
On the Oju-Adu-Okoko road project, he said the 23.8-kilometre road project had witnessed remarkable progress, with approximately 18 kilometres already completed by the contractor.
However, he noted that several other awarded road contracts in the area were yet to commence, as contractors were yet to resume work on site.
He specifically mentioned a major contract valued at about N198 billion covering the corridor from Oweto Bridge to Otukpo, whose contractor was yet to mobilise to site.
He assured that details of other affected contracts would be made available subsequently.
Speaking on the deteriorating Katsina-Ala-Vandeikya-Cross River road, the controller explained that no active contract currently existed on the route.
According to him, the ministry has been carrying out periodic emergency and sectional repairs on the road to maintain traffic flow.
He, however, said that recent assessments revealed that the road had deteriorated beyond the stage where isolated repairs could provide a lasting solution.
“What the road requires now is total rehabilitation. We have already submitted a proposal for the complete reconstruction and re-award of the road.
“The proposal is currently being processed for consideration and approval,” he said.
The Controller further explained that many federal roads not currently captured under active contracts remained in poor conditions due to budgetary constraints.
He noted that the Federal Ministry of Works could only award projects that had received budgetary provision, making it difficult to address all deteriorating roads simultaneously.
He said that, meanwhile, emergency intervention works were ongoing on the Makurdi-Ogbema road, where washouts after two culverts were close to failure.
He said the affected road was already under contract, but the contractor had requested augmentation due to obsolete rates affecting some materials.
“Although the augmentation request has received a Certificate of No Objection from the ministry’s headquarters, it is still awaiting approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
In spite of the pending approval, the controller said he persuaded the contractor to return to the site immediately to prevent the road from being cut off completely.
“The contractor has resumed work to ensure the road remains motorable and that there is no total collapse of the affected sections,” he stated.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to maintaining critical road infrastructure across the state while pursuing approvals for larger rehabilitation projects, aimed at improving connectivity and boosting economic activities.
Meanwhile, commuters, motorists, and other road users have appealed to the government to fix the Benue-Cross River Road, also known as the Vandeikya-Cross River Road.
They said the road was in a very terrible condition and almost unusable.
John, a driver, told NAN that the many sections of the road were “extremely deplorable” and have continued to damage his car anytime he plied the route. (NAN)
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Tags: Controller Federal Roads