Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, has praised the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for the speedy rehabilitation of nine spans (180) metres Fori and six spans (120) metres Moromoro bridges destroyed by the September 2024 flood in Maiduguri and Jere local government areas of Borno State.
The minister, who spoke yesterday during his two-day working visit to Maiduguri, also inspected a 250-capacity student hostel being constructed by NEDC at Mohamed Lawan College of Agriculture, Maiduguri. He said the bridges and other projects undertaken by the commission were very dear to the people of the state and to governments at all levels.
He said the essence of government is to solve problems, adding that the bridges being rehabilitated, especially that of Fori, would solve a huge problem, considering the residents across and other infrastructure, such as schools, the teaching hospital, and other places of work that most residents access.
“I want to commend the management team of the NEDC for taking up this huge responsibility. I know how difficult it has been, having overcome many obstacles that we don’t have to mention before getting the Fori bridge up to this level,” Maigari said.
He noted that the projects are in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda ‘, married with the Northeast Stabilisation Programme of the federal government.
At the Moromoro bridge, a six-span, 120-metre bridge, the Minister said he was impressed with the work because NEDC is delivering critical infrastructure projects across the six states of the Northeast.
“This is one project that is very dear to the people of Maiduguri and Borno State in general, being an international component, as well as being a significant trade hub and road opening up to neighbouring countries.
“We can only imagine the trade that goes on here. I am pleased to say that the President and the Vice President have this state at heart. That is why we are putting critical infrastructures for the people,” the Minister further said.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of NEDC, Mohammed Goni Alkali, said that as of the last count, about 40 bridges are being constructed by the Commission across the six States of the Northeast.
The consultant, Engr Kori Shettima, said the Fori bridge in Galtimari, which comprises about nine spans and 180 metres, is 84 per cent complete, adding that what remains is a 200-metre road and drainage, which would be completed concurrently before the delivery of the bridge.
The Minister would commission a fertility centre constructed by the NEDC at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).
