Senator Kashim Shettima, the Vice President, laid the groundwork on Saturday for the development of a 22.5km Jere Bowl road network that would connect various rural towns in Borno’s Mafa and Jere Local Government Areas.
The North East Development Commission, NEDC, is sponsoring the project, which will be managed by a Chinese Construction Company Ltd.
Similar road construction was carried out by the commission in a number of states in the area under the previous administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, including the building of the 32 km (miles) long Garkida-Dabna road in Adamawa State, which cost N6.3 billion, and the 22.5 km (miles) long N13.553 billion project. Jere-Bowls, the 54-kilometer Mutai-Ngalda road in Yobe, which cost N12.99 billion, the 53-kilometer Gombe-Abba-Kirfi route in Bauchi State, and the Jere-Bowls road.
Shettima also kicked off the distribution of NEDC-donated palliatives of food and non-food items to the six states at the Government House Maiduguri, with most of the governors of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Bauchi in attendance, while Taraba and Gombe were represented by deputies.
The Vice President, who has been in Maiduguri since Friday, utilised his visit to commission a number of people-oriented projects, including Mega schools, hospitals, and other social infrastructures overseen by Governor Babagana Zulum as he approaches the end of his second term.
Shettima addressed governors and stakeholders in the region in the Multi Purpose Hall, Government House, Maiduguri, following the groundbreaking ceremony for the road project and the launch of the palliatives.
He stated:
“Ten (10) years ago, most parts of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states were under the control of Boko Haram terrorists.”
The vice president bemoaned that the nearly ten-year conflict in Borno state alone had destroyed $6.8 billion (N312.8 billion) worth of property.
He encouraged the commission to complete the road projects in the states of Adamawa, Gombe, and Bauchi.
“The deplorable Gombe-Bauchi, Maiduguri-Damboa, and Biu-Gombi federal roads are to be undertaken by NEDC this year,” adding that their completion will improve security and the smooth transport of goods and services in the region.
cc: Vanguard Ng
