Abuja, Nigeria — August 17, 2025 | The Federal Government has ordered emergency repairs on the Loko–Oweto–Agatu highway amid growing fears that seasonal flooding could cut off the vital road linking Benue and Nasarawa States.
Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, confirmed the directive on Sunday, explaining that reports from the area indicated heavy rains had weakened sections of the highway, raising safety concerns for commuters and threatening to disrupt the free flow of goods and services across the North-Central region.
According to Umahi, the Loko–Oweto–Agatu axis is a strategic transport corridor for farmers, traders, and travelers, and its preservation is crucial to regional commerce. He disclosed that contractors had been mobilised to site for immediate interventions, including filling erosion-prone spots, e reinforcing drainage systems, and ensuring the road remains motorable.
Local residents had earlier raised alarm over the deteriorating state of the highway, warning that without urgent intervention, the route could become impassable during peak flooding.
The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding critical infrastructure and tackling the effects of climate change on road networks. He added that special attention is being paid to flood-prone areas to prevent disruptions to national connectivity.
The intervention, he noted, is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s infrastructure maintenance agenda, which prioritises the protection of strategic highways to strengthen Nigeria’s economic integration
