Oluwatobi Adu 
Makurdi, Nigeria – The Benue State House of Assembly advances a bill seeking to establish a dedicated road maintenance agency aimed at preventing rapid deterioration of roads across the state.
Lawmakers pass the bill for second reading during Tuesday’s plenary at the Assembly complex in Makurdi.
The proposed legislation will create the Benue Road Maintenance Agency (BENROMA) to oversee routine upkeep of roads rather than relying on costly reconstruction after years of neglect.
House Majority Leader Thomas Dugeri, who sponsors the bill, says the state must abandon the long-standing “build and neglect” approach to road infrastructure.
“Maintaining a road originally built for about N500 million may cost roughly N5 million yearly, but neglect can force the government to spend up to N400 million on reconstruction,” Dugeri says.
He explains that BENROMA will prioritise all-season roads linking farming communities to urban markets to reduce post-harvest losses.
The lawmaker adds that dedicated maintenance teams across the state’s 23 local government areas will create jobs for young people while ensuring consistent road repairs.
Minority Leader Isaac Ochekliye seconds the motion, describing the proposal as highly beneficial for the state.
Speaker Alfred Emberga subsequently directs the Clerk, Bem Mela, to read the bill for the second time before referring it to the Committees on Works and Urban Development for further review.
About the Author
Koko Maxwella 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Mirian Gom