Barely 24 hours after LEADERSHIP report, Gombe State governor and chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has called on the federal government to take urgent measures to permanently solve the recurrent problem of collapsed bridges and road washouts along Gombe-Bauchi Road.
These issues, he noted, have rendered the road unsafe and impassable for travelers in the North- East.
The road connects Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, and parts of Borno states, making it a critical transportation route for goods and services.
During his inspection visit to the site of the road washout/collapsed bridge at Kalajanga, Kirfi local government area of Bauchi State, Governor Inuwa underscored the crucial role of maintaining this infrastructure, emphasizing its significance in the socio-economic activities of the people of the North East sub region.
The governor likened the road to an essential artery connecting vital regions, highlighting its vital role in the economic activities of the people.
“This road is like an artery that connects the heart with the brain supplying blood and oxygen, if it breaks no part of the body can function. This is what the road is to the sub-region.”
“I believe the governor of Bauchi was here and don’t be surprised tomorrow to see the governor of Adamawa or Borno here because of the importance of the road to the entire region”, he added.
He stressed the need for comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction, noting that the road, nearly 50 years old, requires bridges and thorough restoration.
Governor Inuwa observed that traveling through alternative routes is both expensive and time-consuming, underscoring the urgency of completing the repair works to ensure smooth transportation across the Northeastern states.
Governor Inuwa pledged to escalate the matter to the president, seeking a permanent solution to the problem.
Responding on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Works, a staff in the ministry overseeing the project, Engr. Bitrus Dauda said the ministry is doing everything possible to make the road motorable while assuring to push for the construction of bridges along the road.
