Mohamed Garba
Workers were seen clearing roads and cutting overgrown grasses in Makurdi on Tuesday evening, ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s scheduled visit to Benue State, set for Wednesday, June 18.
A video that surfaced on social media showed dozens of workers engaged in the late-hour cleanup along key routes in the state capital. The sprucing up of Makurdi’s streets comes as the state braces to host the President, just days after a deadly wave of violence claimed over 200 lives in coordinated attacks by suspected armed herdsmen between June 13 and 14.
In a bid to ensure a smooth visit, the Benue State Government declared June 18 a public holiday. The move, according to officials, is intended to allow for “mass participation” in a solidarity march welcoming the President.
Support groups have also been mobilised for what state officials described as a “shoulder-to-shoulder” procession, which will escort the President from the airport, through the bustling Wurukum Roundabout, and onward to the Government House.
While the state prepares for the high-profile visit with pomp and pageantry, public sentiment remains mixed. Many residents are still reeling from the scale of the recent violence and are looking to the President’s visit for reassurance, justice, and action.
There is yet no official word on whether President Tinubu’s visit will include a stop at the affected communities or if any relief measures will be announced.
