The Federal Government and the Benue State Government have concluded plans to expand the Wurukum Flyover in Makurdi to a dual carriageway to ease traffic congestion and improve vehicular movement.
The development follows a request by Governor Hyacinth Alia to increase the capacity of the bridge, which is currently 69.87 per cent complete.
The Federal Controller of Works in Benue, Mukaila Danladi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi on Friday.
Danladi explained that the proposed expansion had necessitated a review of some components of the ongoing construction, adding that work on the revised design would commence after approval.
He said the original design provided for a total width of 8.4 metres, comprising two carriageways of 3.65 metres each, a 0.7-metre walkway and a 0.4-metre median.
Under the proposed modification, the carriageway width would increase to 10.3 metres on each side, while the median would measure one metre.
According to him, the adjustment is expected to provide additional road space and improve traffic flow around the busy Wurukum Roundabout.
The federal controller acknowledged the difficulties motorists and residents had experienced due to the construction work, urging them to remain patient.
“Immediately the review is approved, we would want to introduce some diversions around that location,” he said.
He noted that some previous traffic diversions had been removed to ease movement but warned that additional diversions could be introduced when work on the expansion begins.
Danladi attributed the delay in some sections of the project to the ongoing design review but expressed optimism that construction would accelerate as the rainy season subsided.
The Federal Government officially commenced construction of the Wurukum Flyover on September 15, 2025, as part of the second phase of the Makurdi–9th Mile Road dualisation project.
At the flag-off ceremony, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, described the flyover as a gift to Benue State from President Bola Tinubu.
Umahi said the broader road project would improve transportation and stimulate economic activities across Benue, Enugu and other parts of the country.
Governor Alia, who represented the president at the ceremony, said the project would ease the transportation of agricultural produce and strengthen connectivity between Nigeria's North-east, South-east and South-south regions.
The project's lead consultant, Adam Onundi, had disclosed that the Makurdi–9th Mile dualisation project was divided into five sections covering approximately 250.6 kilometres, in addition to the 15.8-kilometre Lafia Bypass.
The Wurukum Flyover is part of the first section of the road project.
Providing an update on the wider Makurdi–Otukpo–Ninth Mile–Enugu Road, Danladi said construction was progressing satisfactorily.
He disclosed that about 150 kilometres of the approximately 250-kilometre road had reached the layer preceding asphalt surfacing, while the final asphalt layer had been completed on about 87 kilometres.
The controller urged motorists to obey traffic instructions and cooperate with construction teams working along the affected routes.
The proposed expansion of the Wurukum Flyover is expected to improve traffic movement in Makurdi, although implementation of the revised design remains subject to approval.
FG, Benue Govt to convert Makurdi flyover to dual carriageway