Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South in the National Assembly, has formally raised concerns with the Federal Ministry of Works over the omission of key Borno State transit routes from a major federal road project.
In a letter to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, dated February 11, 2026, and sent from Maiduguri, Ndume described the current design of the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe highway as “incomplete,” noting that it fails to extend into Borno State’s important towns, including Biu, Damboa, and the state capital, Maiduguri.
The road, part of the federal government’s infrastructure initiative under the Renewed Hope Administration, is intended to connect the North Central and North East regions with a modern dual carriageway. Budget allocations for 2026, however, show the project ending in Gombe State, effectively leaving Borno State out of the plan.
Ndume expressed disappointment that despite Borno’s political support for the administration during the 2023 elections, the state is being overlooked in major development projects. He also highlighted that Borno has largely missed out on the NNPCL-funded Tax Credit Road Projects, a scheme other states have leveraged to accelerate road construction.
The senator urged the Federal Government to reconsider the project’s design and prioritize Borno State, emphasizing that as security improves in the region, rehabilitating critical roads is essential for economic recovery and restoring connectivity.
“The government must ensure that Borno, which has endured years of insurgency, benefits from these legacy infrastructure projects”, Ndume wrote, calling for immediate attention to the state’s transport and economic needs.
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