FirmNews Celebrates Yenge, Confers Best Infrastructure Chairman Award on Tarka LG Chairman

By Terdue Atondu, Makurdi

The Executive Chairman of Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State, Hon. Yenge Raphael Aondoaseer, has received an Excellence Award from FirmNews Media for his contributions to infrastructure development in the council.

The award, presented on Thursday, September 17, 2026, recognised Yenge as the “Best Local Government Chairman on Infrastructure” following an assessment of projects and interventions carried out by his administration since assuming office.

Presenting the award, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of FirmNews Media, Matthew Otabe, said the recognition was based on visible projects and their impact on residents, rather than mere announcements or promises.

Otabe said the assessment covered critical areas including electricity, roads, bridges, water supply, public facilities, transportation and other infrastructure affecting the daily lives of residents.

He said Yenge, who assumed office on October 5, 2024, had demonstrated an understanding that grassroots development must be tangible and felt by the people.

According to him, the administration’s interventions in rural electrification include the installation of a 500KVA transformer at Zongo, repairs of existing transformers and ongoing electrification projects in Pipeline, Aso and Cherrywood communities.

He added that a transformer was also being installed at Tse Agbuku in Mbaikyaa Council Ward, while solar-powered streetlights had been provided along Secretariat Road, the council premises and the Chairman’s Quarters.

“Beyond electricity, the administration has invested in the rehabilitation of public infrastructure, including the Tarka Senior Staff Quarters, renovation of the Chairman’s office and quarters, and improvement of public facilities such as the VIP toilets at Wannune Market Square,” Otabe said.

The FirmNews Publisher also highlighted the administration’s investment in water infrastructure, particularly the drilling and installation of solar-powered and electric-motorised boreholes and the rehabilitation of 22 existing boreholes across the wards.

He described the interventions as practical responses to the need for access to clean and reliable water in rural communities.

On transportation and rural connectivity, Otabe cited the rehabilitation of council buses and tractors, construction of the Ukyough Bridge under the RAAM-BN Programme and grading of the Nyambe–Ukyough rural road as projects capable of improving mobility, agricultural activities and economic interaction among communities.

He, however, noted that infrastructure development goes beyond roads, buildings and other physical structures, stressing that investment in human capital remained an important component of grassroots development.

He commended the administration’s interventions in education, youth development, healthcare and sports, including the training of more than 400 youths under its skills acquisition programme, scholarships for 120 students, free JAMB registration for 400 Tarka indigenes and distribution of 10,000 exercise books to schools.

Otabe also commended the upgrading of the Ijorimenger Special Primary Health Care Centre into a BSUTH Annex and other measures aimed at improving healthcare delivery and mobility.

He said FirmNews also recognised efforts to strengthen grassroots administration through the upgrading of the local government computer unit and other institutional facilities.

“As a media organisation, FirmNews Media believes that recognition must be based on evidence, while accountability must remain at the heart of public leadership,” he said.

Otabe further commended the council chairman for granting journalists access to projects and facilities during the recent facility assessment tour of the 23 local government areas of Benue State.

He said such openness would enable citizens to better understand government activities, the application of public resources and the impact of interventions on their communities.

He urged Yenge to regard the award as an encouragement to sustain and expand his infrastructure development efforts.

“The Board, Management and Editorial Team of FirmNews Media congratulate Hon. Yenge Raphael Aondoaseer on his well-deserved recognition. We urge you not to see this award as the end of the journey, but as an encouragement to do even more,” Otabe said.

Award Described as Well-Deserved
In separate goodwill messages, Hon. Tertsea, who spoke on behalf of the local government council; Hon. Num Moses, Deputy Chairman of the APC in Tarka Local Government Area; and Hon. Orjila Tyovihi, former council chairman who spoke on behalf of the Elders Forum, described the award as well deserved.

They characterised Yenge as a pragmatic young leader who was delivering democratic dividends to the people of Tarka.

The speakers said the chairman had maintained consultations with elders, party members and other stakeholders before taking major decisions, describing the approach as evidence of an open-door administration.

They also commended FirmNews Media for recognising the chairman’s contributions, describing the award as an appropriate recognition of his efforts.

Receiving the award on behalf of the chairman, Hon. Gideon Yengeum, the Chief of Staff and former councillor representing Mbaigba Council Ward and former Deputy Chairman of Tarka Local Government Area, described the honour as timely and appropriate.

He said the recognition of Yenge as “Best Local Government Chairman on Infrastructure” was evidence-based and urged the chairman to remain committed to delivering more projects to the people.

He also pledged the council’s continued partnership with FirmNews Media and the media in general for the development of Tarka Local Government and Benue State.

In his vote of thanks, the Director-General, Services and Administration (DGSA), Mr. Ishegba Ogah Michael, attributed the achievements of the administration to the support of the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, the APC, the people of Tarka and other stakeholders.

Ogah described Yenge as a leader who listens to residents irrespective of their status and considers their concerns in decision-making.

He reaffirmed the chairman’s determination to sustain the development drive and do more for the people of Tarka Local Government Area.