General News
Benue State Govt Explains: “High-Level Underpass Not Condemned, Contractor Only Directed To Correct Finishing At No Extra Cost”
By Felix Umande
The Benue State Government has dismissed reports circulating on social media suggesting that the High-Level Underpass project in Makurdi has been condemned and implying wrongdoing in its award and execution, saying the reports are false and misleading.
In a statement issued by the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Chief Solomon Iorpev, the government said it became necessary to set the record straight following the speculations.
According to the statement, during a routine technical inspection, the Director of Civil Engineering in the Ministry of Works, Engr. Tivfa Wombo, identified that certain finishing works on the underpass fell short of specifications in the approved project plan.
“This is a normal part of quality assurance on any major infrastructure project, engineers are expected to scrutinise work closely and identifying such lapses is exactly what a competent supervising team should do,” the government explained.
It clarified that the issue relates to finishing standards, not the structural integrity or safety of the underpass.
Accordingly, the contractor, Bauhaus Construction Company, has been directed to correct the finishing at its own cost, with no additional burden on Benue State taxpayers. The statement added:
“This should be seen as good governance, not scandal. This is indicative of a system working as it should. Rather than accept substandard work, the state has held the contractor accountable and insisted on remediation at no extra cost to the state.”
The government contrasted the current approach with what it described as a pattern in the immediate past, where roads and infrastructure deteriorated within a year or two of commissioning with no consequences, noting that some of such projects are now being reconstructed by the Alia-led administration.
“Again, the technical nature of the lapse identified, the kind of thing an experienced supervising engineer, not the ordinary eye, would catch, also speaks to the calibre of engineering oversight now in place on state projects,” it added.
The statement reaffirmed that the High-Level Underpass and Interchange remains one of the flagship achievements of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s infrastructure agenda, designed to ease traffic around High Level and forms part of a broader push that includes the Wurukum Flyover and rural road networks connecting farming communities to markets.
The Benue State Government said it welcomes scrutiny and will continue to be transparent about the progress of the project through official channels, urging members of the public to rely on verified accounts from the Ministry of Information and the ministries directly concerned rather than incomplete, false, speculative and biased accounts intended to create disaffection.
While encouraging constructive engagement over the administration’s development priorities, the government warned ill-intentioned individuals and mischief-makers to be mindful of the consequences of their actions.
By Isa Abdul, Abuja
Nigerians have been educated on how to download their National Identification Number slips online for free. The National Identity Management Commission explained this through its NINAuth mobile application.
The commission outlined the process in a video shared on its official X account on Wednesday, demonstrating how NIN holders can obtain the document without visiting its enrolment centres or paying third-party agents.
NIMC, outlined the steps as follows:
Download the NINAuth application from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
Open the application on your mobile phone.
Tap “Do More with NINAuth”.
Select “NIN Slip” from the available options.
Complete the facial authentication process to verify your identity.
According to the commission, successful authentication would allow users to download and save their official NIN slips directly to their mobile phones.
“Once verified, click on ‘Download NIN Slip’ to generate and save the official NIMC-issued NIN slip into your mobile phone,” it said.
The commission said the process is convenient and secure, free and required only a few steps to complete.
“It is that simple, it is free, available, and a few taps away. Get yours today,” Nice added.
The commission said the process was designed to make obtaining the document easier while reducing the need for physical visits to its offices.
NIMC launched the NINAuth platform in October 2025 to let Nigerians control who accesses their personal data across government, banking, telecoms, and education services.
In June 2026, the commission announced that NIN holders could download their official NIN slips directly through the application at no cost.
According to information published on the NINAuth website, the downloaded slip is the same official document issued by NIMC and can be used at banks, government offices and other institutions where it is required.
The National Identification Number is an 11-digit unique number issued to Nigerians and legal residents following successful enrolment. It serves as a means of establishing and verifying an individual’s identity and is used to link personal records to the National Identity Database.
To obtain a NIN, an individual must visit an NIMC enrolment centre, complete the registration process, provide the required demographic information and undergo biometric capture, including fingerprint and facial scans, before being issued an 11-digit identification number.
By Felix Umande
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has approved a fresh set of appointments into his administration.
The new appointees are:
- Hon. Kelvin Atsem – PSA on Youth Mobilization
- Hon. Ulaha Paschal Aondolumun – Special Assistant on Community Relations
- Hon. Terhemen Ndiisaa – PSA on Politics
- Hon. Galim Terhide – Special Assistant on Revenue
- Hon. Ankpo Tarvershima – Special Assistant on Sanitation
- Hon. Job Tseagh – PSA on Power
- Hon. Lubem Mbabov – PSA on Community Engagement
- Hon. Terwase Aondoakaa – PSA on Community Engagement
- Hon. Charles Tema – PSA on Community Engagement
- Hon. Dr. Doom Dorcas Akpoughol – SSA on Event Management
Charging the appointees, Governor Alia said: “I charge you to immediately get acquainted with the blueprint of my administration and work according to the vision and principles as contained in the working document.
“You must always put the interest of the state first in the discharge of your official duties.”
The Governor expressed hope that the appointees will bring diverse experience to their respective offices, and charged each of them with absolute dedication to duty, adding that he expects diligent service to the people of Benue State.
“I demand integrity in the discharge of your official responsibilities,” he said.
The statement was signed by Sir Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.
By Son Tertsea, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has viewed with grave concern the mischievous misrepresentation of the reaction of its counsel, Larry Peters Aso to the judgment of Justice Suleiman Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court in the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by a legal practitioner, Dr Ted Iseghoi-Edwards.
The judge had cleared Iseghoi-Edwards of alleged fraud relating to services rendered to the nation’s 774 local government councils. He also disagreed with the EFCC regarding its investigation report on the London-Paris Club refunds.
Consequently, in a reacting to the judgment, Aso thanked the judge for his industry in attending to the matter and stated that the EFCC would apply for the Certified True Copy of the judgment “and study it to know the necessary steps to take”.
He never said anything about any EFCC 2024 report on an allegation that Iseghoi-Edwards “fraudulently obtained the judgments, because he instituted proceedings against the Federal government in the United States.”
Further claims that Aso said the report was prepared under pressure from higher authorities “after Iseghohi-Edwards assigned his promissory notes to third parties in the United States, where they threatened to sue the Federal Government”, is totally mischievous and deliberate character assassination.
This framing was intended to insinuate extraneous influences on the matter which never existed. Record of proceedings of the court on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 when the judgment was delivered can be accessed for confirmation of his reaction.
The Commission enjoins the media to be more objective in reporting court proceedings in the interest of justice.
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