The Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, has commended the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for the speedy rehabilitation of the nine-span, 180-metre Fori Bridge and the six-span, 120-metre Moromoro Bridge, both of which were destroyed by the September 2024 floods in Maiduguri and Jere Local Government Areas of Borno State.
The minister gave the commendation during a two-day working visit to Maiduguri, during which he also inspected a 250-capacity students’ hostel being constructed by the NEDC at Mohammed Lawan College of Agriculture, Maiduguri.
He said the bridges and other projects being undertaken by the commission in the state were of great importance to the people of Borno State and governments at all levels.
According to Mr Ahmadu, the essence of government is fundamentally to solve problems, noting that the rehabilitation of the bridges, particularly the Fori Bridge, would address a major challenge faced by residents in the area.
He said the bridge provides access to several important facilities, including schools, the teaching hospital and places of work, making its rehabilitation particularly significant to the community.
“I want to commend the management team of the NEDC for taking up this huge responsibility. I know how difficult it has been, having surmounted numerous obstacles that we do not have to mention, before getting the Fori Bridge to this level,” he said.
Mr. Ahmadu noted that the projects were in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Government’s North-East Stabilisation Programme.
Delivering Critical
On the Moromoro Bridge, which comprises six spans and measures 120 metres, the minister said he was impressed with the progress of work, stressing that the NEDC was delivering critical infrastructure across the six states of the North-East.
“This is one project that is very dear to the people of Maiduguri and Borno State in general. It has an international component, as well as being a significant trade hub and a 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 in place critical infrastructure for the people,” he said.
The Managing Director of the NEDC, Mohammed Goni Alkali, said the commission was currently constructing about 40 bridges across the six states of the North-East.
“As of the time of our last count, about 40 bridges are being constructed by the commission across the six states of the North-East. Our mission is to ease the lives of the people of the region,” he said.
The consultant, Mr Kori Shettima, said the Fori Bridge, located in Galtimari Ward, comprises nine spans and measures approximately 180 metres.
Mr. Shettima said that the project was 84percent complete.
He said that the remaining work included about 200 metres of road construction and drainage, which would be carried out concurrently ahead of the commissioning of the bridge.
The minister is also expected to commission a fertility centre constructed by the NEDC at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
