President Bola Tinubu on Saturday flagged off N137 billion rehabilitation work on the Bama–Banki and the Dikwa–Gamboru–Ngala roads in Borno.

He said during the ceremony that the roads, when fully completed, would boost trade and agricultural activities and enhance efficiency in security operations.

The project area borders the neighbouring Republic of Cameroon.

The existing road is a single-carriageway with two lanes, 49.15km in total length, and begins at Bama town at the Cameroon border.

Mr Tinubu, who was represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, said the roads were key to restoring trans-Saharan trade between Nigeria and the neighbouring countries of Chad and Cameroon, which had been disrupted by the insurgency.

“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

“Promises acquire meaning when citizens can drive on the roads, move their goods, reach their families and live with greater security,” he said.

Earlier, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the president of the Dangote Group, and the contractors handling the projects said his group had 12 major roads covering over 1,000km across the six geo-political zones.

Mr Dangote said the projects put together cost the federal government about N3 trillion under the roads infrastructure tax credit scheme.

He stated that the Bama-Bank road and Dikwa-Gamboru-Ngala road would open up Nigeria’s economy, facilitate military operations, thereby improving security and attract investors.

In his address, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said that the projects were first awarded in 2021 at a combined cost of about N55 billion, but construction was delayed due to insecurity-related challenges.

Mr Umahi said the projects were later reviewed, with phase I estimated at N70 billion and phase II at N67 billion.

He said the projects would adopt the concrete technology system, which offered superior performance, long lifespan, reduced maintenance requirements, and gave greater value for money.

According to him, the scope of work also includes the construction and maintenance of bridges along the route, road furniture, traffic safety facilities and other ancillary works to improve road usage.

He said that the Dikwa-Gamboru-Ngala road was part of the trunk 95.A3 major North–Southerly route, which started at the road-over-rail bridge on the Port Harcourt township boundary and continued to Aba-Oktupa–Oturkpo–Alaide–Makurdi-Lafiya-Akwanga-Jos–Bauchi-Kari-Potiskum-Maiduguri and -Dikwa–Gamboru-Ngala, the Nigerian border to Cameroon.

The minister stated that, when completed, the roads would enhance the movement of farm produce and trade, improve transportation quality, boost businesses, and provide greater access for security agencies in their operations.

In his remarks, Governor Babagana Zulum also said the interventions were vital to the state’s recovery efforts, adding that the roads would expand economic activity to Chad, Cameroon, and the Niger Republic.

 (NAN)