The Nasarawa State Government has announced that the ongoing construction of the 2.6-kilometre Mararaba-Nyanya Flyover and adjoining road project is expected to be completed by December 2026.
The Managing Director of the Nasarawa State Urban Development Board, Engr. Wada Yahaya, disclosed this when he led members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors National Media Tour, headed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on an inspection tour of critical infrastructure projects undertaken by the federal and state governments.
The tour provides an opportunity for state governments and project beneficiaries to highlight how ongoing economic reforms and improved fiscal capacity are enabling governments at the sub-national level to undertake and complete critical developmental projects.
According to Engr. Wada, the Mararaba-Nyanya project, which covers approximately 2.6 kilometres, is designed to improve traffic flow, ease congestion and strengthen connectivity between the state and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the state government is committed to ensuring that the project is delivered within the projected timeline, with December 2026 set as the completion date.
He explained that the project is part of the administration’s broader efforts to modernise the state’s urban infrastructure and provide efficient transportation corridors for residents, commuters and businesses.
“There were several attempts to solve this traffic problem in Mararaba, but at the end of the day, His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule came up with the final solution and that is to provide a continuous flyover of 2.6 km long that will go over the challenging area without tampering with the business activities of the location, meaning we will have two flyover bridges and then connecting elevated road of 2.6km.
“We have five pedestrian bridges so that it will enable pedestrians to cross at any point without going all the way to the roundabout. That is what will provide the final solution to the challenges we are facing in Mararaba.
“The Mararaba project is costing the state government almost ₦40 billion. That’s the construction work alone and then we have the compensation of over ₦1.1 billion, followed by the cost of road furniture that will come up, which includes markings, signages and street light that we are also estimating may cost above ₦1 billion at the end of the project.
“In all we will spend between ₦43 and N44 billion on the project. The project will enhance economic activities of the Mararaba area and the entire Nasarawa State because it will reduce the travel time from Abuja to Keffi from over two hours to less than 40 minutes.
“The Governor wouldn’t have embarked on this project if the state is not getting enough funds from the federal government, and even as it is, we are the least in terms of revenue collection from the federal compared to other states. Yet, the governor is utilizing the resources to get all these jobs done and any time the payment is due, His Excellency always approves the release of the funds without delay.”
The team also inspected several other landmark projects across the state, including the completed Lafia Flyover, Underpass and Interchange, the ongoing construction of the state-of-the-art Dalhatu Arab Specialist Hospital in Akwanga, and the construction of the Total Flyover Bridge and Underpass in Keffi, another strategic transportation project designed to address incessant road accident, traffic congestion and improve mobility within the commercial town.
Also inspected by the team is the completed Akwanga Interchange and Underpass, which represents another major investment in road infrastructure and urban mobility in the state.
The NUDB chief said the projects inspected demonstrate the growing emphasis on infrastructure renewal to support economic activities and improve the quality of life of Nasarawa people.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the inspection tour of Benue and Nasarawa States, the Director of Media and Publicity of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors who is also the Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media & Special Duties, Mr Tunde Rahman, expressed satisfaction with the way and manner the sub-national governments of Benue and Nasarawa states are responding to the yearnings and aspirations of their citizens with landmark infrastructure projects following increased federal allocation.
“We have now come to the end of our inspection tour of Benue and Nasarawa States. We have seen iconic road projects, we have seen bridges both by the federal government and the state government and we have seen interventions in healthcare, education and provision of water.
“It bears restating that what you have seen are some of the gains of the reforms undertaken by President Bola Tinubu as testified by Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa and Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue.
“When those reforms were initiated by the President, people were complaining that there were initial difficulties.
“But those difficulties soon gave way for benefits. And this flyover bridge in Mararaba is part of the benefit those reforms. Forget about the remonstration of the opposition who continue to claim that Mr. President has not done anything. Seeing is believing; you have all seen for yourself.
“Somebody said in Nasarawa that Governor Abdullahi Sule had turned Nasarawa State into a huge construction yard. Same with Governor Alia of Benue State and I think that both governors have been very unanimous in stating that they were able to do what they did because the federal government reforms have freed resources to them and they now have more fiscal space to perform.
“You know that anybody that has done well in one term deserves to come back again for another term. Mr. President has done well during this first term and he deserves to be re-elected in order to continue the work that he has done.” Like I said, forget about the remonstration of the opposition. They continue to wallow in denial that Mr. President has not done anything. From what you have seen across the states and in Abuja, Mr. President has performed well and I think that Mr. President deserves to be re-elected and I’m also here appealing to our people to look at the good work of Mr. President, to look at the achievement of Mr. President and to let those achievements determine their voting decision when the time comes,” he concluded.
