- Road projects under President Tinubu will boost commerce, post-insurgency recovery, says VP Shettima
- VP attends wedding fatiha of associates’ children in Maiduguri
The Federal Government has officially launched the reconstruction of two major highways in Borno State, the Bama-Banki Road and the Dikwa-Gamboru-Ngala Road, in a move aimed at reviving trade, enhancing food security, and accelerating recovery from years of insurgency in the North-East.
Vice President Kashim Shettima performed the flag-off ceremony in Maiduguri on Saturday on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the projects as critical lifelines for communities that have long suffered from isolation and infrastructural decay.
Speaking to a gathering that included Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, federal lawmakers, and business leaders, Shettima stressed that roads are not merely concrete and asphalt, they are the arteries through which commerce flows, children reach schools, patients access hospitals, and farmers move produce to markets.
“Roads are the live wire of our commercial engagements. They determine whether the farmer reaches the market, the trader reaches the customer, the child reaches school, the patient reaches care, and security agencies reach communities in time,” the Vice President said.
He argued that poor road networks impose crippling costs on households and businesses, raising the price of food, discouraging investment, and weakening local economies.
In a region still healing from the scars of insurgency, he said, road rehabilitation must be viewed as both an economic imperative and a security necessity.
“Bad roads are also a security risk. A corridor that is difficult for citizens to travel is equally difficult for security personnel to patrol and protect,” Shettima added.
The Vice President singled out the Bama-Banki corridor as a route of “special strategic weight,” while noting that the Dikwa-Gamboru-Ngala road is part of the same vision to reconnect fragmented communities.
He confirmed that the projects would include bridges, drainage systems, and safety facilities, with reinforced concrete pavement designed for durability, a reflection of the administration’s commitment to quality and value for money.
He praised Governor Zulum for prioritising infrastructure in the state’s reconstruction agenda and commended the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, as well as other officials for their roles in advancing the projects.
“Promises acquire meaning when citizens can drive on the roads, move their goods, reach their families, and live with greater security,” Shettima said, assuring residents that the projects would be completed.
Governor Zulum, in his remarks, said the two roads would not only boost economic activity within Borno but also open up trade links with Chad, Cameroon, and Niger Republic.
He thanked President Tinubu for his commitment to the North-East’s development and pledged continued support for the administration, even vowing more votes for the President in the 2027 elections.
The Governor also acknowledged the Dangote Group’s contributions, including schools, clinics, and food items worth over N2 billion, as well as N1.5 billion to NEMA for flood victims in the state.
Minister of Works David Umahi disclosed that the two road projects were first awarded in 2021 at over N55 billion but have since risen to over N70 billion and N67 billion respectively for phase one.
He expressed confidence that President Tinubu would see them through to completion, describing the President as “a great thinker poised to do the unthinkable.”
Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Tahir Mongonu hailed the flag-off as a step toward expanding the economy and enhancing development across the North-East, while also helping to curb insecurity through improved access.
Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, whose company is providing funding through tax relief arrangements, described the occasion as historic for West African connectivity.
He noted that his group has already executed over 1,000 kilometres of roads worth more than N3 trillion and pledged to do even more.
Earlier in the day, Vice President Shettima attended the wedding fatiha of five sons of his close associate, Alhaji Ali Gujja (popularly known as Empire), as well as the wedding of the daughter of another friend, Alhaji Bala Mohammed Bukar, both held in Maiduguri.
At one of the ceremonies, the Vice President stood in for the bride’s father, while Governor Zulum represented the groom’s father. Shettima prayed for the couples, wishing them long and happy marriages.
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