A senior official in Benue State has addressed circulating claims of massive cost inflation on the WURUKUM-Air Force Base-Tyo-Mu Road rehabilitation project, describing the allegations as inaccurate.
Speaking during a session that appears to be at the Benue State House of Assembly, the official stated that the total contract sum for the 13-kilometer federal highway (tagged F121) is approximately ₦28.342 billion, not the ₦68 billion figure being alleged on social media and other platforms.
She emphasized that the project involves the rehabilitation of the road linking the Makurdi area, including the Air Force Base vicinity. The contract is structured as a reimbursable arrangement, with the state government expected to be reimbursed by the federal government upon project completion and handover, given its status as a federal highway.
The clarification comes in response to doubts raised regarding statements made by the immediate past Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aondona Dajoh, during his 50th birthday celebration. The official urged those questioning the claims to examine the details carefully and judge for themselves.
This intervention aims to set the record straight on the project’s financials, which have generated public interest and debate in recent days. The road project is seen as a significant infrastructure initiative in the state, expected to improve connectivity in the WURUKUM-Air Force Base-Tyo-Mu axis.
As the discussion continues online, stakeholders await further official documentation from relevant agencies such as the Bureau of Public Procurement to provide additional transparency on the contract details.
