The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed the immediate repair of the Lafia-Makurdi road following the flooding on the road, which prevented President Bola Tinubu from visiting Yelwata during his visit to Benue State on Wednesday.
Umahi, in a statement on Friday, said the development caused an embarrassment to President Tinubu and apologized for the state of the road.
The Minister explained that the flooding was caused by the poor management of the road by the private concessionaire managing the tolled highway.
He therefore ordered ministry officials and engineers from China Harbour Operations and Maintenance Company to be immediately dispatched to address and resolve the ongoing flooding issues along the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi route.
Umahi, in the statement released on Friday by his Special Adviser, Orji Uchenna, blamed the China Harbour Operations and Maintenance Company for not maintaining the road properly while still collecting toll fees.
“We have got information on the unfortunate flooding of a section of Keffi-Makurdi road which is under HDMI, that is, a PPP with China Harbour. We know that the project has been completed and it is tolled, but unfortunately yesterday there were a lot of debris that covered an existing culvert there and that led to flooding.
“We apologise very profusely to Mr President and Nigerians for the embarrassment this unfortunate incident caused. The Keffi-Makurdi road is a Public-Private Partnership with China Harbour under the HDMI initiative. Though completed and tolled, flooding occurred due to debris blocking the culvert.
“In the midst of the rain, we deployed our officials and the concessionaire’s personnel who evacuated the debris, allowing floodwaters to drain. That section of the road has now been reinstated.
“We also commend Mr President very highly for his fatherly role in Benue State. His visit there has made a lot of impact in the lives of the people and everyone living in that place.
“With God on his side, Benue people shall see sustainable peace and progress,” the statement read.