, Borno State Council, has commended the Federal Government for its N31.2 billion road intervention project in the state, describing it){kind=link}
By: Babagana Bukar Wakil, Maiduguri
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Borno State Council, has commended the Federal Government for its N31.2 billion road intervention project in the state, describing it as a major boost to security and economic recovery in the North-East.
The Chairman of the Council, Abdulkareem Haruna, gave the commendation on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Beneshek–Gubio Road, a 24.15-kilometre stretch under the Maiduguri–Monguno rehabilitation corridor. So far, 1.5 kilometres of the road has been completed.
Haruna said the project would significantly enhance security operations in the area and facilitate the interstate movement of goods and services, particularly between Borno and neighbouring states.
Accompanied by principal officers of the Federal Ministry of Works, the NUJ chairman noted that the intervention demonstrates the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to rebuilding infrastructure in crisis-affected communities.
He stressed that improved road networks are critical to restoring economic activities and enabling security agencies to respond swiftly to emerging threats. Haruna urged the contractor to sustain the current pace of work, emphasising that timely completion would deliver substantial economic and humanitarian benefits to communities along the Maiduguri–Monguno axis.
He reaffirmed the NUJ’s support for the project, describing it as a strategic investment in mobility, livelihood restoration, and regional stability.
In his remarks, the Federal Controller of Works, Borno Field Office, Engr. Salihu Ado, disclosed that renewed insurgent attacks along the corridor have slowed progress. He explained that contractors are compelled to use longer, safer routes and to move equipment on and off site daily due to security concerns.
The Maiduguri–Monguno road rehabilitation project was originally awarded in 2018 to QUMECS Nigeria Limited. The initial contract covered 105.6 kilometres at a cost of N21.7 billion, with completion scheduled for 2021.
However, the project was later reviewed and reduced to a 30-kilometre first phase. The pavement structure was upgraded, and the contract sum revised to N28.36 billion under the 2025 Appropriation and the NNPCL Tax Credit Scheme.
Engr. Ado revealed that work progress remains slow, with only 5.85 kilometres of binder course completed and overall performance standing at 5.46 per cent.
He attributed the delays to persistent insecurity and logistical challenges, noting that stone base materials are transported approximately 450 kilometres from Shira in Bauchi State, while laterite is sourced about 150 kilometres away from Ngamdu in Yobe State.
The revised completion date for Phase One of the project is now June 2028.
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