Ortom spends over N1.2b on Benue South roads

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has spent not less than N1.2 billion on road construction in Oturkpo and Agatu councils in Benue South.

The governor disclosed this during the commissioning of road projects in the two councils at the weekend. Ortom explained that government spent about N340 million on the construction of Armstrong Avenue, Commercial Road and the Secretariat/Och’Idoma road network in Oturkpo, headquarters of Oturkpo Council.

He also said that his government spent about N776 million on the construction of the first phase of the Oshigbudu/Obagaji/Agatu road, noting that the second phase of the project from Obagaji/Okokolo/Agagbe/Naka road, which would commence soon, would be completed before he leaves office in 2023.

Revealing that government would immediately release N15 million for the completion of the Agatu water project this year, he explained that the commissioning of the projects was in partial fulfilment of his campaign promises to the people of the area.

While commissioning a set of classroom blocks at Islamiya Primary School, Oturkpo, Ortom stressed the importance of a child’s formative years; hence government’s focus on basic education.

Government, he added, has purchased 90,000 chairs and tables for primary schools in the state and ordered for additional 35,000. He warned that anyone caught diverting the desks to personal use would be severely dealt with by the law.

Senator Abba Moro (Benue South) remarked at the event that the governor’s action was to lay a good foundation for the children’s lives.
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Sir John Ngbede, also lauded Governor Ortom for the construction of the Oshigbudu/Obagaji/Agatu road, stressing that the project brought relief to the people of the area.