Yobe State has secured support from the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) for the reconstruction of the Damaturu–Gujba–Buni-Yadi–Magza Highway.
Governor Mai Mala Buni inaugurated the project in Damaturu on Wednesday, describing the road as vital to security, agriculture and cross-border trade.
Buni noted that the highway, constructed more than five decades ago, connects Yobe to southern parts of Borno and other areas in the North-East, facilitating the movement of people, goods and services.
He explained that increased traffic and years of deterioration had severely damaged sections of the road, necessitating comprehensive reconstruction.
According to the governor, the state government sought the commission’s intervention due to the strategic importance of the corridor.
“I am happy that our discussions with the commission have yielded positive results, culminating in the flag-off of this important project,” he said.
Buni commended the NEDC for prioritising the request and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to infrastructure development as a key component of post-insurgency recovery.
He added that improved road networks would enhance the movement of security personnel and equipment, while also enabling farmers to access their farmlands and markets more efficiently.
The governor urged benefiting communities to cooperate with contractors and called for strict adherence to contractual specifications to ensure quality delivery.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of the commission, Mohammed Alkali, assured residents of timely completion of the project.
Alkali attributed the intervention to sustained engagement by the state government, noting that consistent follow-up transformed the proposal into action.
He disclosed that the commission had executed several projects in Yobe, including the installation of over 6,000 solar street lights and the construction of three mega schools already commissioned.
He further stated that more than 150 functional boreholes had been provided across the state, adding that the commission’s Yobe State office was the first to be completed in the North-East.
Alkali pledged continued collaboration with the state government to accelerate recovery efforts and drive socio-economic development across Yobe.