Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms with increasing the state’s monthly allocation from about ₦4.5 billion to ₦16 billion.
Sule made the disclosure during a nationwide media tour of government projects organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team.
The tour, which has taken journalists through Nasarawa, Benue and Kogi states, is showcasing infrastructure and development projects being executed under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to the Nasarawa governor, the increase in the state’s revenue has significantly improved its ability to execute major projects without relying on bank loans.
“Executing all the projects without borrowing from the bank is because of the Federal Government’s support. So, you must give the President credit for that,” Sule said.
Among the projects inspected in Nasarawa was the ₦44 billion Mararaba flyover, which is being constructed to tackle persistent traffic congestion along the Abuja-Keffi corridor.
The project is expected to be completed in December 2026 and is projected to reduce travel time between Abuja and Keffi from more than two hours to less than 40 minutes.
Other projects inspected included the Keffi flyover, Akwanga road and underpass projects, as well as the Kilema-Tudun Amba bridge and stormwater channel in Lafia.
Benue Expands Infrastructure, Healthcare. In Benue State, attention was drawn to the ongoing 854-metre Buruku Bridge across the Katsina-Ala River.
The dual-carriage bridge is expected to improve transportation between communities in Benue and Taraba states while providing an important link between the North-Central and North-East regions.
Benue State Deputy Governor Samuel Ode described the project as a “golden gift” to the people, noting that residents had depended on boats to cross the river for decades.
He said the bridge would also benefit agricultural communities in the Sankera axis, a major yam-producing area, by making it easier for farmers to transport their produce to markets.
Benue has also recorded investments in healthcare, with about ₦20 billion reportedly committed to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital over the past three years.
The investment has supported the expansion of specialist medical services, diagnostic facilities and manpower. A cancer centre is also under construction, while the hospital’s In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) centre provides assisted reproductive services at subsidised rates.
Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Terungwa S. Hwande, said the facility now attracts patients from several states, including Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi, Enugu and the Federal Capital Territory.
The state is equally pursuing industrial development through the rehabilitation of Taraku Mills and the development of the Food Basket Brewery and other agricultural processing ventures.
Kogi Road Connects Farming Communities. In Kogi State, the ongoing Iyale-Ogane-Enugu Road in Dekina Local Government Area is expected to improve connectivity between rural communities and major markets.
Residents of Otutulu and surrounding farming settlements expressed appreciation for the project, saying the road had been awaited for many years.
A resident, Amodu Joseph Silvas, said the project had renewed confidence among residents who had endured years of unfulfilled promises.
He also thanked President Tinubu and Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for supporting the project.
The road is expected to ease the transportation of agricultural produce from rural areas and reduce post-harvest losses caused by poor road networks.
Projects May Shape 2027 Political Narrative. The infrastructure projects across the three North-Central states are emerging against the backdrop of the region’s political importance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
President Tinubu won 1,760,993 votes, representing 41.3 per cent of votes cast in the North-Central during the 2023 presidential election.
With increased state revenues and ongoing investments in roads, healthcare, bridges, education and other sectors, supporters of the administration believe the projects could improve its acceptance in the region ahead of the next presidential election.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the projects demonstrate how government funds are being channelled into infrastructure and economic development.
“Government has been accused of borrowing money, but we can see where the money is going into – to develop infrastructure, link communities and to ensure free flow of commerce,” Onanuga said.
In Benue, Deputy Governor Ode has also pledged that the state would deliver one million votes for President Tinubu in 2027, saying the target would be pursued by fulfilling campaign promises made to the people.
The ongoing media tour is aimed at allowing journalists to inspect federal and state projects and assess the impact of government reforms and increased revenues on development across the North-Central region
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