₦80bn Wukari Flyover Sparks Fresh Row
The proposed ₦80 billion Wukari flyover has sparked fresh controversy in Taraba State, with opposition figures questioning the project’s cost and priority while the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas insists the infrastructure is designed to prepare Wukari for future growth.
Professor Jerome Nyameh of the Accord Party and Hon. Danjuma Usman Shiddi, popularly known as Danji SS, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, have raised concerns over the project, particularly its financial implications and place among the state’s development priorities.
Their interventions have widened the conversation beyond the construction of a flyover to questions about how Taraba should allocate public resources between immediate needs and long-term infrastructure.
The state government, however, maintains that major infrastructure should not be judged solely by present circumstances.
Nyameh Demands Answers
Nyameh said his concern was not opposition to development in Wukari but the need for transparency and economic justification given the reported ₦80 billion cost.
He raised questions about how the project would be financed, the terms of the funding and the economic benefits expected for Wukari and Taraba State.
The Accord candidate also sought clarity on the project’s approval, scope, contractor and completion timeline.
His argument centres on whether the proposed flyover represents the most urgent and economically productive investment for Wukari at the moment.
For Nyameh, a project of such financial magnitude should come with sufficient information to enable residents and other stakeholders to understand its cost, financing and expected benefits.
Shiddi Questions Priority
Shiddi took a stronger position, describing the proposed flyover as a misplaced priority.
The APGA candidate questioned whether Wukari currently faces the level of traffic congestion that would make such a massive investment necessary.
He argued that the money could potentially be directed towards projects addressing more immediate needs, including healthcare, roads and strategic bridges.
Among the alternatives highlighted were a modern specialist hospital in Wukari and critical infrastructure such as the Lau–Karim Lamido bridge, Ibi Bridge, Chinkai–Awe crossing, Namnai Bridge in Gassol and Zagah Bridge on the Bali axis.
His position has added another dimension to the debate: whether the question should simply be whether Wukari deserves a flyover or whether ₦80 billion could produce greater development impact elsewhere.
Kefas Govt Defends Project
The Kefas administration has rejected arguments that the proposed flyover is a misplaced priority.
Governor Kefas’ spokesman, Emmanuel Bello, maintained that major infrastructure projects should not always be assessed exclusively against current conditions.
According to the government’s position, Wukari is growing and could experience significant population, commercial and transportation expansion in the years ahead.
The administration believes infrastructure planning should anticipate such growth rather than wait until congestion and other urban challenges become severe.
Bello argued that some infrastructure projects are inherently visionary and should therefore be considered from a long-term perspective.
The government’s defence effectively shifts the debate from what Wukari needs today to what the town could require in the future.
Under that argument, constructing major infrastructure before congestion reaches critical levels could prevent future transportation problems and support economic expansion.
Wukari Stakeholder Backs Flyover
Amid the criticism, the proposed project has also received support from within Wukari.
Dr. Adi Daniel Adigrace, a Wukari resident, backed the flyover and appealed to Governor Kefas to proceed with the project.
He argued that residents should take advantage of the government’s willingness to bring major infrastructure to the town rather than discourage the investment.
According to him, infrastructure that may appear unnecessary under present conditions could become increasingly important as Wukari’s population and economic activities expand.
He also urged residents to separate development from partisan politics and continue demanding additional projects rather than rejecting those already proposed.
His position shows that the controversy is not simply a disagreement between the government and opposition politicians. There are also competing views among stakeholders over what the project could mean for Wukari’s future.
Present Needs or Future Growth?
The controversy has now developed into a broader debate over Taraba’s infrastructure priorities.
On one side are those demanding greater transparency over the project’s financing, approval, economic returns and overall value for money.
Others argue that ₦80 billion could address more immediate challenges in healthcare, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure.
The government and supporters of the project, meanwhile, believe development planning must look beyond current needs and prepare major communities for future expansion.
Both positions raise important questions.
Should government wait until traffic congestion becomes severe before constructing a flyover?
Or should such a huge investment be reserved for projects addressing more pressing challenges?
Those questions are likely to remain at the centre of the controversy as more details about the proposed project emerge.
With Taraba moving closer to another political season, the ₦80 billion Wukari flyover could also become a major issue in the wider debate over development priorities and public spending in the state.
