Kehinde Fajobi
The Senate has called on the Federal Government to urgently approve the rehabilitation of all deteriorating roads nationwide and to include the North East in the Super Highway projects.
The Upper Chamber also commended President Bola Tinubu for the ₦4.2 trillion coastal road initiative.
The call came on Thursday, February 13, after a motion titled “Federal Government’s Approval of ₦4.2 Trillion for Construction of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and Other Road Projects Nationwide,” sponsored by Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central).
Goje expressed concern that despite the ₦4.2 trillion allocation, the North East received only ₦19 billion for just two projects in Adamawa and Taraba states.
Goje highlighted key road networks in the North East needing urgent attention, such as:
Bauchi-Gombe Road
Biu-Gombe Road
Potiskum-Gombe Road
Darazo-Gombe Road
Numan-Jalingo Road
Yola-Mubi Road
Yola-Michika-Madagali-Gwoza-Bama Road
Ngorore-Mayo Belwa-Zing-Jalingo Road
Mayo Belwa-Jada-Ganye Road
Biu-Gombi-Maranraba Road
Biu-Damboa-Maiduguri Road
Biu-Damaturu Road
Goje also emphasised that the North East remains the only region excluded from the Super Highway Project, which hampers its regional integration and economic progress.
During the debate, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West) clarified that the ₦4.2 trillion coastal road project was designated for the Badagry-Sokoto and Lagos-Calabar Roads, not based on regional allocations. He added that ₦500 billion is earmarked for rehabilitating roads nationwide.
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Senator Idiat Adebule (APC, Lagos West) raised concerns about the delay in completing the Lagos-Badagry Road, initiated in 2023.
Senator Isah Jibril (APC, Kogi East) called for a long-term road development strategy to ensure balanced infrastructure distribution.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio concluded that Nigeria must adopt a serious roadmap for continuous road rehabilitation to avoid further deterioration of the country’s road network.
He noted that proactive steps from previous administrations could have prevented the current crisis.