The Managing Director of Arkan Builders Limited, Engr. Mazan Kalassina, has assured that the ongoing construction of the Wukari Junction–Yam Market–Y Junction–Cemetery Road in Zaki-Biam, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, will be completed and handed over to the local government council in line with the contractual agreement.
Engr. Kalassina gave the assurance on Friday, 11 September 2026, while conducting the Executive Chairman of Ukum Local Government Council, Hon. Jonathan Modi, and the Leader of the Vote Alia Again 2027 Support Group, Mr. Haakyav Tombu Peter, on an inspection of the project site. He disclosed that work had reached an advanced stage, particularly in lateriting, landscaping of walkways and construction of road dividers, and that the contractor remained committed to completing the project within the agreed timeframe and according to specifications.
According to him, the project is designed not only to improve transportation and connectivity within Zaki-Biam but also to transform the appearance of the town and stimulate socioeconomic activities in the area. He revealed that the Yam Market roundabout would be redesigned, while adequate drainage infrastructure would be provided at the Wukari Junction to address the perennial flooding that has affected the area over the years. The company, he added, would maintain the required standard of construction to provide lasting value to the people of Ukum and contribute significantly to the development of Zaki-Biam.
Mr. Haakyav Tombu Peter commended the infrastructural development being undertaken by the Ukum Local Government Council under the leadership of Hon. Jonathan Modi, with the approval of Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia. He described the projects as evidence of purposeful leadership and a demonstration of commitment by both the governor and the council chairman to improving the living conditions of the people of Ukum. He called on residents to support the administrations beyond 2027 to ensure the completion and sustainability of ongoing development projects across the local government.
In his remarks, Hon. Jonathan Modi reiterated his determination to reposition Ukum and take it to the next level of development. He said his administration would continue to prioritise projects that have direct impact on the people, particularly infrastructure capable of improving movement, boosting economic activities and creating a more conducive environment for residents and businesses. The ongoing road project, he explained, forms part of a broader vision to give Zaki-Biam and other communities within Ukum a new developmental outlook, stressing that development must be visible, functional and beneficial to the people.
The chairman disclosed plans to organise an Ukum Day that would bring together sons and daughters of the local government, irrespective of political, religious or other affiliations, to deliberate on the future of the area and chart a common course for sustainable peace and development. He noted that the relative improvement in the security situation in Ukum had created an opportunity for residents to refocus attention on economic recovery, infrastructure, education, agriculture and other areas necessary for sustainable development.
Hon. Modi called for greater unity among the people, stating that the development of Ukum could only be achieved when its residents work together and place the collective interest of the local government above individual and political differences. He assured the people of Ukum that his administration would remain focused, accessible and committed to delivering on its development agenda, while soliciting their continued support, cooperation and prayers. He expressed optimism that with sustained peace, cooperation between the local and state governments, and the collective support of the people, Ukum would witness greater transformation in the coming years.
