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In a significant step toward addressing years of infrastructure decay in rural Benue State, the Benue State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (BN-RAAMP) has commenced rehabilitation works on several critical bridges in Mbayaoongo Council Ward of Vandeikya Local Government Area.
For more than seven years, the Jijigbe Bridge stood as a notorious hazard an essential crossing that had deteriorated into what residents described as a death trap. Farmers, traders, and daily commuters were compelled to either risk their lives navigating the unstable structure or endure lengthy and expensive detours, severely hampering economic activity and access to markets.
That chapter of hardship is now being rewritten. Under the leadership of BN-RAAMP State Coordinator, Hon. Chief Dr. Stephen Numbevebe, the project has extended its focus to Mbayaoongo, targeting four key bridges: Jijigbe, Tyaverashi, Atitom, and Andy Dyer. These structures are vital lifelines connecting communities, facilitating the safe movement of people and goods, and directly supporting agricultural livelihoods.
The intervention is expected to restore reliable passage, open up previously inaccessible routes for transporting farm produce to markets, and substantially reduce the daily burdens faced by rural dwellers. The once-dreaded Jijigbe Bridge, in particular, is on track to become a symbol of renewal and government responsiveness rather than abandonment.
This latest effort forms part of BN-RAAMP’s broader record under Dr. Numbevebe’s coordination, which has seen the construction of over one hundred bridges and culverts across the state. The projects underscore a deliberate priority on rural infrastructure as a foundation for economic survival, food security, and improved quality of life in areas long overlooked.
Supporters and observers have hailed the developments as evidence of consistent, people-centered governance under the administration of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia. By channeling resources into practical, high-impact interventions, the state government is demonstrating a commitment to reversing neglect and bringing tangible development directly to rural populations.
As rehabilitation progresses on these bridges, communities in Vandeikya and beyond anticipate safer travel, faster market access, and renewed economic momentum outcomes that promise to transform daily realities for thousands of Benue residents who depend on these vital links for their survival and prosperity.
