02/09/2026
Little things that matter
At the Low-Level Roundabout in Makurdi, opposite Savannah, there is a demonstration bus stop. It is part of the model infrastructure showing what bus stops in the Benue State capital could look like under the urban renewal project of the Fada administration.
While it may appear to be just another bus stop, a little closer look shows some thoughtful touches: A small retail shop and, more importantly, a phone-charging booth.
That charging booth may sound like a minor addition. It isn't, in view of Nigeria's electricity crisis. Nigerians pay heavily for electricity and yet often have to make alternative arrangements to keep their phones and other devices powered. This is why it is now common to see people moving around with phone chargers and power banks, adding to the emerging list of essential personal belongings.
So, if you pass that bus stop and see people sitting there, don't be too quick to assume they are waiting for a bus or taxi. Some of them are there to boost their phone batteries.
I have used the charging facility myself, twice or thereabout.
Again, if you have not paid 3k for a trip from Makurdi to Gboko, you may not fully appreciate what Benue Links is doing to keep transportation costs within reach. Gboko is less than 100 Km from Makurdi, yet one is required to pay 3k.
With these two illustrations, it's safe to conclude that governance is not always about the spectacular. Sometimes, it is about recognising the small inconveniences that make life difficult for ordinary people and doing something, however modest, to ease them.
Indeed, little things matter.
Cc: Achussah
Benue Made.
