The Federal Government has intensified efforts to rebuild critical infrastructure destroyed by the 2024 floods in Borno State, with the Minister of State for Regional Development, Hon. Uba Maigari Ahmadu, inspecting major North East Development Commission (NEDC) projects and demanding timely completion of the reconstruction works.
Ahmadu commenced a two-day inspection of NEDC-funded projects in Maiduguri on Monday, focusing on infrastructure being rebuilt to restore access, strengthen public services and support the state’s recovery from the devastating floods.
Among the major projects inspected were the nine-span Fori-Galtimari Bridge and six-span Moromoro Bridge, both of which collapsed during the 2024 flooding, cutting critical routes and disrupting movement within affected communities.
The Minister also inspected the construction of a 250-bed student hostel at the Mohammed Lawan College of Agriculture, Borno State, another major NEDC intervention aimed at expanding critical educational infrastructure in the region.
During the inspection of the Fori-Galtimari Bridge, Ahmadu commended the NEDC and contractors for the progress recorded so far but warned that the projects must be delivered within the approved specifications and timelines.
“I want to commend the NEDC and the contractors, but I hope that when next we come here, this bridge would have been fully delivered and access roads would have also been completed to the benefit of residents around here,” the Minister said.
His directive places renewed focus on the completion of the bridges, which are expected to restore vital transportation links and ease the burden on residents and communities affected by the 2024 floods.
The 2024 flooding caused extensive damage across parts of Borno, destroying roads, bridges and other public infrastructure and compounding the challenges faced by communities already recovering from years of insecurity.
The Federal Government, through NEDC, has consequently stepped up reconstruction and development interventions across the North-East, with the latest projects forming part of wider efforts to restore damaged infrastructure and strengthen the region’s resilience.
Ahmadu said the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would continue to support interventions aimed at rebuilding critical infrastructure and improving living conditions across the North-East.
The Minister’s inspection is expected to continue on Tuesday with visits to additional NEDC-funded projects across Borno.
Upon completion, the projects are expected to improve connectivity, facilitate access to essential services and provide additional institutional infrastructure, while reinforcing the ongoing reconstruction and recovery efforts in Borno State.
