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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the prolonged neglect and apparent non-execution of the general maintenance contract for the Makurdi-Gboko-Ugbema-Katsina-Ala Road in Benue State.
This development was confirmed in an official response from the Federal Ministry of Works, dated January 12, 2026, addressed to Liberty Solicitors on behalf of concerned citizen Jeremiah T. Michianan. The letter, signed on behalf of the Honourable Minister, states that the matter is already under active investigation by the ICPC.
The response followed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted on November 11, 2025, seeking details on the execution of Contract No. GM/23-24 for the general maintenance of the critical federal highway. The Ministry directed that further inquiries on the subject be forwarded directly to the ICPC, explaining that engaging other channels could be interpreted as interfering with or suppressing the Commission’s ongoing efforts.
The road, a vital artery connecting Makurdi (the state capital) to Gboko, Ugbema, and Katsina-Ala, serves as a major economic lifeline for farmers, traders, commuters, and transporters in Benue North-East. For years, residents, motorists, and public figures have decried its deplorable condition—characterized by deep potholes, erosion, collapsed sections, and frequent gridlock—despite the award of a maintenance contract.
The confirmation of the ICPC probe has been welcomed by advocates who have long called for accountability on the project. Jeremiah Michianan, who initiated the FOI request, announced the development publicly and stated that efforts to follow up on the matter would continue in the public interest.
The road’s poor state has been linked to increased travel times, higher vehicle maintenance costs, frequent accidents, and economic losses for communities dependent on it for the movement of agricultural produce and other goods. Periodic palliative works have offered only temporary relief, with many sections reverting to near-impassable conditions during rainy seasons.
The ICPC’s involvement signals a formal anti-corruption scrutiny into possible irregularities, delays, or mismanagement in the award, funding, supervision, or execution of the contract. While details of the investigation remain undisclosed at this stage, the case underscores persistent public demand for transparency and timely delivery on critical federal infrastructure projects in Benue State.
Stakeholders now await further updates from the ICPC as the probe progresses, with hopes that it will lead to renewed momentum for actual rehabilitation and long-term maintenance of the strategic highway.
