By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State Government has provided further details on the Wurukum-Airforce Base-Renewed Hope Estate dual carriageway project, stating that the proposed N40 billion budget for the second phase is still undergoing due process and has not yet been submitted to the Procurement Commission.
This clarification comes after the Director-General of the Benue State Public Procurement Commission (BSPPC), Dr. Comfort Adadu Akwonya, informed the State House of Assembly on Tuesday that only the first phase of the project – a N28 billion contract for a 13km stretch from Wurukum to Mu – had been approved by the Commission.
In response, Chief Solomon Iorpev, Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media, Publicity, and Strategic Communication, confirmed that the second phase – covering an additional 10km from the Airforce Base to the Renewed Hope Estate, including a new bridge at Mu – has received federal approval but is still being processed internally.
Iorpev explained that the full project comprises a 23km dual carriageway with a total estimated cost of N68 billion, divided into two segments: Phase 1: N28 billion for 13km (Wurukum to Mu); and Phase 2: N40 billion for 10km (Airforce Base to Renewed Hope Estate and bridge construction)
He emphasized that dual carriageway projects are inherently more complex and costly than single-lane roads, requiring higher construction standards, including stonebase sub-layers and dual asphalt coatings.
“The DG’s statement was accurate – only the first phase has gone through procurement. The second phase was approved later and is still moving through the Ministries of Justice, Finance, and Procurement,” Iorpev said.
“Claims that the entire project was inflated or that only N28 billion was budgeted are misleading,” he added.
He further justified the expansion, noting that the Renewed Hope Estate, a federal housing initiative, will significantly increase traffic volume, necessitating a dual carriageway and a reinforced bridge.
“This is a single project with two components, one contractor, and a unified reimbursement plan,” Iorpev stated. “Misinformation is being spread to distort the facts and mislead the public.”
The state government has assured transparency as the second phase undergoes due process.
