Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, is receiving renewed attention over his administration’s approach to infrastructure, economic development and public service delivery as several major projects reshape parts of the state.
One of the most visible examples is the ongoing construction of the Mararaba-Nyanya flyover and adjoining road project, which stretches about 2.6 kilometres along the busy Abuja-Keffi corridor. The project, according to the Nasarawa State Government, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
The flyover is designed to address the persistent traffic congestion that has affected motorists travelling between Abuja and Nasarawa State, particularly around the Mararaba axis. The project also includes pedestrian bridges intended to improve safety for people crossing the busy highway.
The Mararaba project is part of a broader infrastructure programme under Sule's administration. Other projects highlighted by the governor include the dualisation of Akwanga township roads, an underpass in Akwanga, the Shendam Road dualisation, a major storm-water drainage project and the Keffi flyover.
Sule has attributed the state's increased capacity to finance such projects to the Federal Government's economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and foreign exchange reforms. According to him, Nasarawa's monthly federal allocation has risen from roughly ₦3.8 billion–₦4.5 billion before the reforms to between ₦14 billion and ₦16 billion in 2026.
The governor said the additional fiscal space has enabled the state to undertake major projects without borrowing from commercial banks. He estimated that about ₦90 billion had been spent on projects under the administration through the resources available to the state.
Beyond roads and bridges, the administration has also placed emphasis on education, healthcare, agriculture and skills development.
Sule recently highlighted investments in vocational education and health infrastructure, including a specialist hospital under construction in Akwanga. The state has also been developing agricultural projects, including a 10,000-hectare rice farm aimed at strengthening food production and economic activity.
The administration has also pointed to efforts to address inherited obligations. At a recent event in Akwanga, Sule said his government had cleared gratuity arrears owed to retirees dating back to the creation of Nasarawa State in 1996, with payments settled up to 2011 and work continuing on subsequent beneficiaries.
Industrialisation is another major component of the state's development strategy. Sule has cited investments in lithium processing, marble and granite production as evidence of the state's attempt to move beyond dependence on government spending and build a stronger productive economy.
The governor's administration has also promoted investment through reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business, land administration and private-sector participation. At the 2026 Nasarawa Investment Summit, Sule said the state had pursued deliberate reforms designed to attract investment into agriculture, mining, manufacturing and infrastructure.
For residents, however, the real test of the government's governance model remains how effectively these projects translate into better living conditions, easier transportation, employment opportunities and improved access to essential services.
The Mararaba flyover, for instance, is currently causing disruption to traffic during construction, but state officials argue that the long-term benefit will be the removal of a major bottleneck that has frustrated motorists for years. The Nasarawa State Urban Development Agency has described the project as a permanent response to the congestion and safety problems around the area.
Sule's governance approach has also benefited from the administration's close relationship with the Federal Government. The governor has publicly credited President Bola Tinubu's economic reforms for increasing the resources available to Nasarawa, while federal officials have pointed to the state's projects as examples of how increased allocations can translate into development at the state level.
That relationship has strengthened Sule's standing within the ruling All Progressives Congress and with the Tinubu administration, although his record remains subject to political debate and scrutiny as the 2027 elections approach.
Ultimately, the emerging template in Nasarawa revolves around using increased public revenue to fund infrastructure while simultaneously pursuing investment, industrialisation, human-capital development and the settlement of inherited obligations.
Whether that model produces lasting improvements will depend not only on completing the projects but also on their maintenance, economic impact and ability to improve the everyday lives of residents across the state.
For now, however, the scale of ongoing construction and investment has placed Nasarawa among the states attracting attention for their use of increased fiscal resources to pursue major development projects.
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