Former Senate Leader and Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for fulfilling his promise to reconstruct and dualise the strategic Gombe-Biu highway, describing the project as a major breakthrough that could transform the economic fortunes of the Northeast.
Ndume said the commencement of work on the 125-kilometre road project, valued at N1.245 trillion, demonstrates the Tinubu administration’s commitment to addressing long-standing infrastructure deficits in the region.
The project was officially flagged off on Thursday at Liji in Gombe State during a ceremony attended by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Minister of Works David Umahi, and Managing Director of Hi-Tech Construction Company, Danny Abboud.
In a statement personally signed by him, the Borno South lawmaker commended both President Tinubu and Minister Umahi for redeeming their commitment to rehabilitate one of the region’s most critical highways, which has suffered years of neglect despite repeated appeals by stakeholders.
According to Ndume, the project marks the culmination of years of advocacy aimed at drawing federal attention to the deplorable state of the road, which serves as a vital transportation artery linking communities across the Northeast.
He recalled that as far back as 2019, he had engaged then Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on the urgent need to rehabilitate the road, stressing its importance to economic growth, security operations, and regional integration.
The senator also revealed that he renewed the campaign in 2021 during discussions on infrastructure financing frameworks and projects linked to facilities supported by the African Development Bank, urging authorities to prioritize the Biu-Gombe corridor in national development plans.
Ndume said his persistence eventually paid off after he formally wrote to the Minister of Works on February 11, 2026, drawing attention to the exclusion of the Biu-Damboa-Maiduguri axis from the administration’s legacy road projects.
“It is heartwarming that our engagements with the present Minister of Works eventually yielded results,” he said.
He noted that the Federal Executive Council subsequently approved the road project under the federal tax credit and infrastructure intervention framework and later included it among strategic national road interventions funded through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) tax liabilities arrangement.
Describing the highway as a lifeline for the Northeast, Ndume said the project would significantly improve transportation, facilitate trade, boost security operations, and strengthen economic ties between the region and neighbouring countries.
“This road is not just about transportation. It is a strategic economic and social corridor that connects the Northeast to other parts of Nigeria and to neighbouring West African countries,” he said.
The senator expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for listening to the concerns of the people of the region and acting decisively.
“I want to appreciate Mr. President for listening to my calls. It is a laudable project that will unlock economic opportunities and improve the quality of life of Nigerians,” he stated.
However, Ndume urged the Federal Government not to stop at Biu, calling for the extension of the road network to Maiduguri, Monguno, Ngala and Yola to further deepen economic integration and enhance national security.
According to him, improved road infrastructure along those corridors would facilitate cross-border trade and deny criminal elements and insurgents the opportunity to exploit poor road conditions to attack travellers.
“Those are very critical roads leading to our borders. They will promote international trade and also strengthen the fight against insurgency because criminals often take advantage of bad roads to harass, kidnap and attack innocent travellers,” he said.
Ndume further predicted that the people of the Northeast would remember the Tinubu administration’s intervention when they head to the polls in future elections.
“I am sure that the people of the Northeast will appreciate this gesture by Mr. President and reciprocate accordingly,” he added.
The N1.245 trillion highway project is expected to be one of the largest ongoing federal road interventions in the Northeast, with stakeholders expressing hope that it will open up new economic opportunities and accelerate development across the region.