What should be a one-hour drive from Yandev to Ugbema Junction has become a full-day nightmare.

The Yandev-Ugbema federal highway — the critical artery that links Benue to Cross River, parts of Taraba and up to Adamawa State — has collapsed.

For a state celebrated as the ‘’Food Basket of The Nation’’, the collapse is not just a road failure; it is an economic strangulation.

The Food Basket’s broken spine

Between Yandev and Ugbema lies a belt of abundance — settlements bursting with large-scale cultivation of oranges, cassava, yams and sesame seeds. Over 50 heavy-duty trucks haul these food products daily to other parts of the country through this highway.

More importantly, the Dangote Cement factory is located along this corridor. Hundreds of cement trucks ply the road daily.

Yet, to say the road is dilapidated is an understatement. The road is gone.

Investigation by The Nation showed that the highway was constructed in 1979 — 46 years ago. Since then, the only work done has been skeletal patchwork by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) on selected portions. Other stretches have been left to rot for years.

A haven for robbers, a graveyard for trucks

Because every portion from Yandev to Ugbema is bad, hoodlums now have a field day. They ambush stranded motorists with ease.

Trucks with heavy loads spend days navigating craters that have become ponds of mud. Unlucky ones sink, topple over and block the highway for others.

When The Nation visited the road, about 20 trucks were on queue, inching through one after another, like mourners at a funeral.

The suffering of travellers has become brisk business for locals. Young men on the route have become emergency road contractors — filling failed sections with sand and planks, then collecting tolls.

For vehicles to move, they sometimes have to drive through the compounds of residents, paying a fee for passage.

A young man seen filling a failed portion near Mvendaga said he makes about N20,000 from each truck that passes through the portion they repair, especially 911 trucks.

“You have to pay to pass, or you’ll sleep here,” a driver lamented.

Fed Govt’s silence as travellers groan

When will the Federal Government reconstruct Yandev-Ugbema and save travellers from this excruciating pain? That is the question on every lip.

The Benue State Controller of Works was not in when The Nation visited his office in Makurdi.

However, another official who pleaded anonymity, said the scope of work required is reconstruction and upgrading, not patching.

He said a report had been sent to Abuja for consideration. (The Nation)