Benue State’s expanding road network and urban renewal projects are opening up new areas for residential and commercial development, but the infrastructure boom is also pushing property values and rents higher across Makurdi.
The development has created new opportunities for investors and businesses, while leaving many low- and middle-income residents struggling to keep pace with the rising cost of accommodation.
Road Expansion Reshapes Makurdi Property Market
More than 390 kilometres of rural and urban roads are currently under construction across Benue State, according to the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula.
Within Makurdi alone, at least 25 road projects have reportedly been completed and opened to traffic.
The improved connectivity is transforming communities that were previously difficult to access, particularly areas around High Level, Logo 1, Wurukum, North Bank and Wadata.
Residents say the new roads have improved movement, reduced flooding in some locations and encouraged businesses to establish in previously neglected neighbourhoods.
Veronica Ucha, a resident behind the Zone 4 Police Headquarters in Makurdi, said the area had become significantly more accessible since the road construction.
“Small businesses are opening here and there with traders thriving in commercial activities,” she said.
Another resident, Jack Edwin, said the road projects in Wurukum had attracted more people to the area while improving drainage and reducing flooding.
Better Roads, Higher Rents
However, the improved accessibility is coming with an unintended consequence: rising property values and rents.
Residents and property stakeholders say landlords are taking advantage of increased demand as previously inaccessible communities become more attractive to tenants, businesses and investors.
Alfred Asongo said a two-bedroom apartment in parts of Makurdi now rents for between ₦800,000 and ₦1.5 million, while one-bedroom apartments go for about ₦400,000 to ₦750,000.
Self-contained apartments are reportedly going for between ₦300,000 and ₦600,000, with residents saying prices have risen significantly compared with previous years.
The rising costs are creating a growing gap between infrastructure development and housing affordability.
Government Turns to Mass Housing
In response to the housing pressure, the Benue State Government has begun expanding its housing intervention through the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC).
The state recently took over 116 housing units constructed by the Federal Government at Tse Ukpahar, behind Welfare Quarters in Makurdi.
Rather than relying solely on outright sales, the government plans to make the homes accessible through a rent-to-own and mortgage-backed payment arrangement.
Under the proposed allocation structure, 40 per cent of the units will go to civil servants, another 40 per cent to members of the public, while the remaining 20 per cent will be allocated under other approved categories.
The initiative is aimed at helping residents acquire homes through instalment payments rather than paying the full purchase price upfront.
1,080-Unit Eco City Estate Underway
BIPC has also commenced construction of the 1,080-unit Eco City Estate in Makurdi.
The development is expected to provide housing for civil servants and other residents while expanding the supply of affordable homes in the state.
BIPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, said the project was partly driven by complaints from civil servants over the cost of available housing.
He said Governor Alia directed the company to develop housing specifically targeted at low-income earners.
The company is also planning additional low-income housing estates and a proposed Diaspora City.
Why Earlier Housing Projects Struggled
The housing challenge in Benue has not simply been a lack of government projects.
The 116-unit National Housing Programme Estate at Tse Ukpahar, for instance, remained largely unoccupied for years despite being completed.
Financing difficulties, insecurity, administrative delays and the cost of the houses were among the factors that discouraged potential occupants.
At the time, the units were reportedly priced at ₦8.5 million for one-bedroom homes, ₦11.5 million for two-bedroom units and ₦12.5 million for three-bedroom units.
For many civil servants and low-income earners, the prices were beyond reach.
The government’s current strategy therefore appears to be shifting from simply constructing houses to finding financing and ownership models that ordinary workers can realistically access.
Infrastructure Alone Won’t Solve Benue’s Housing Crisis
Property experts say the road expansion has successfully unlocked new areas for development, but warn that infrastructure without affordable financing could worsen housing inequality.
Estate surveyor ESV Joe Nelson said improved roads have increased land values and attracted private investment to previously neglected communities.
However, he stressed that Benue would need affordable mortgage financing, lower construction costs and transparent housing allocation systems to ensure that the benefits reach low-income residents.
The emerging picture is therefore mixed.
Benue is building more roads, opening up more communities and attracting more property investment — but the real test will be whether ordinary residents can afford the homes that follow.
For now, the state’s property market is entering a new phase, with infrastructure driving growth while high rents threaten to push the people the projects are intended to benefit further away from decent housing.
