By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to completing strategic road infrastructure in Borno State, pushing ahead with the rehabilitation of the Maiduguri–Monguno Road (Section I) despite persistent security and logistical challenges in the North East.
As the nationwide media tour of the North East Zone continued, the Federal Controller of Works in Borno State, Engr. Salihu Adamu, assured Nigerians that the project would be delivered in line with government’s determination to improve connectivity and stimulate economic recovery in the region.
Addressing journalists at the project site in Maiduguri, Engr. Adamu acknowledged that insecurity remains the most significant obstacle confronting the contractor. “The biggest challenge faced by the contractor is insecurity. There are pockets of attacks on the highways, and this has forced them to take longer and safer routes to source construction materials,” he stated.
In an official signed statement by the Director, Information and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Works, Mohammed A. Ahmed, it was disclosed that the project was originally awarded in 2018 to QUMECS (Nigeria) Limited at a contract sum of ₦21.73 billion, covering a total stretch of 105.6 kilometres. However, following a comprehensive technical review and scope adjustment, the project was redesigned to incorporate a flexible pavement structure with asphaltic concrete shoulders. This revision brought the current contract sum to ₦28.37 billion, reflecting prevailing economic realities and enhanced engineering specifications aimed at improving durability and long-term performance.
Phase I of the rehabilitation covers 30 kilometres, and notable progress has already been recorded. Approximately 5.8 kilometres have been completed up to binder course level, while about 8 kilometres of stone base have been executed. Clearance works have extended beyond 15 kilometres, and shoulder construction is ongoing in accordance with the Ministry’s revised policy. The policy replaces traditional surface dressing with asphaltic concrete shoulders to provide stronger structural protection for the carriageway and ensure enhanced pavement durability.
Despite the steady progress, operations along the Maiduguri–Monguno corridor continue to be shaped by security realities. Borno State remains under emergency conditions, compelling the contractor to source base and sub-base laterite from Ngamdu, near the Yobe State border, approximately 150 kilometres away. Stone materials are being hauled from Shira town in Bauchi State, about 450 kilometres from the project site, due to restricted access within the state and the ban on rock blasting as part of security measures.
The Project Manager of QUMECS (Nigeria) Limited, Engr. Bukar Kadai, confirmed that the company is fully mobilised on site, with two active teams simultaneously handling shoulder construction and stone base operations. He added that asphalt laying will commence as soon as bitumen is delivered to the site.
Professional bodies and stakeholders have also commended the quality and pace of work. The Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Maiduguri Branch, Engr. Mohammed Shettima, expressed satisfaction with the standard of construction, noting that the rehabilitation of the road would significantly ease transportation challenges for residents and road users across the corridor.
In a related development, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Borno State Council, Abdulkarim Haruna, inaugurated the completed Limited Rehabilitation of Kaga–Gubio Road, Sections I and II, outside Benisheik Town, on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE.
Describing the road as strategic for economic empowerment and social inclusion, Haruna underscored its importance as a gateway linking Benisheik to Maiduguri and Yobe State. “Roads are a means of empowering the people. This road connecting to Benisheik, which serves as a gateway to Maiduguri and Yobe state, is a very positive development,” he stated. He further urged the media to continue sensitising Nigerians on ongoing infrastructure reforms and the national development efforts of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
Engr. Salihu Adamu also described the Kaga–Gubio Road as a critical intervention designed to facilitate the movement of agricultural produce into Maiduguri and other parts of the North East, thereby strengthening commercial activities within the corridor. He explained that the project forms part of a broader package of emergency and special works aimed at safeguarding existing infrastructure, improving mobility, and supporting economic stability in areas grappling with security challenges.
