By Our Reporter

The Nasarawa State Government has condemned remarks by former Karu Local Government Chairman Samuel Akala, who described the ongoing Karu Twin-Flyover and Underpass Project as a “misplaced priority”.

In a statement issued on Friday June 5 by Peter Ahemba, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, the government said Akala’s comments were reckless and aimed at misleading the public and undermining confidence in ongoing development under Governor Abdullahi A. Sule.

The government acknowledged that it would ordinarily ignore Akala’s outburst, but said it was necessary to set the record straight on the rationale, design, and benefits of the project.

The statement said Karu LGA, particularly the Mararaba axis, has experienced rapid urban growth over the last two decades due to its proximity to the Federal Capital Territory.What was once a semi-rural settlement now hosts hundreds of thousands of residents, traders, and commuters.

The government put daily vehicular traffic along the Abuja-Keffi expressway through Mararaba at over 100,000 vehicles, a volume it said has created chronic congestion, increased road accidents, and reduced commercial efficiency.

In response, the Sule administration initiated the Karu Twin-Flyover and Underpass Project, consisting of two flyovers and one underpass at the most congested junctions in Mararaba. The design, the government said, was developed by certified engineers after traffic studies, environmental impact assessments, and stakeholder consultations.

The Federal Government granted full approval as part of a broader strategy to decongest the Abuja corridor and improve regional connectivity.

The government argued that the Mararaba junctions have recorded a disproportionate number of road traffic accidents involving pedestrians, schoolchildren, traders, and motorists.

The project, it said, separates pedestrian and vehicular movement, eliminates dangerous intersections, and reduces the likelihood of fatal accidents. “Any assertion that saving lives and preventing injuries is a misplaced priority is a rejection of the state’s duty to protect its citizens,” the statement read.

Economically, the government said Mararaba is a major commercial centre serving Abuja, Keffi, Lafia, and beyond. It noted that hours lost in traffic translate to lost income, spoilage of perishable goods, and higher business costs.

The flyovers and underpass, it added, will cut travel time, reduce fuel consumption, and increase trade volume through Karu.The government also said the infrastructure will boost investment attraction. “Investors assess infrastructure before committing capital.

The presence of modern, grade-separated road infrastructure signals that Nasarawa State is serious about development and capable of supporting large-scale enterprise,” the statement said.

It added that the project is already improving perceptions of Karu for housing, retail, logistics, and manufacturing.

The statement stressed that federal approval confirms the project’s importance to national infrastructure planning. The Abuja-Keffi corridor, it said, is a critical artery for the North Central region, and improving flow through Karu benefits commuters from Kogi, Benue, Plateau, and the FCT. “The Twin-Flyover Project is therefore aligned with federal priorities and contributes to national economic integration,” the government said.

The government accused Akala of politicizing infrastructure by framing a “life-saving and economy-boosting” project as a waste of resources.

It said governance requires acting on present needs with foresight for future growth, and that Karu’s congestion is a daily crisis, not a future problem.

The government cited feedback from commuters indicating reduced wait times and improved safety, and said condemning the project at this stage ignores empirical evidence.“By attacking a project that benefits the entire nation, Mr. Akala has placed narrow considerations above public good,” the statement said.

It condemned his remarks “in the strongest terms” and warned that such statements spread misinformation and distract from building the state.

The Sule administration reaffirmed its commitment to completing the Karu project before the end of its tenure in 2027.

It also referenced similar projects in Keffi, Akwanga, and Lafia as proof of ongoing development.

The government called on Akala and other public commentators to engage in responsible discourse, noting that criticism of government policy is legitimate but must be grounded in facts and offered in good faith. “Making sweeping assertions without evidence or dismissing critical infrastructure as a misplaced priority does not serve the public interest,” the statement said.

It maintained that the Karu Twin-Flyover Project is “a targeted, well-funded and urgently needed response to a real and growing challenge in one of Nasarawa’s most densely populated areas” and urged the public to disregard what it called unfounded criticisms.