The Senate yesterday called on the federal government to extend its Super Highway projects to the North East, while commending President Bola Tinubu for approving N4.2 trillion for coastal road projects across the country.
The resolution followed a motion by Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central), who lamented the minimal allocation for road projects in the North East.
In his motion titled “Federal Government’s Approval of N4.2 Trillion for Construction of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and Other Road Projects Nationwide,” Senator Goje pointed out that only N19 billion was allocated for the rehabilitation of two roads in the North East.
“It is imperative to note that in this laudable project, the North East has only two projects: Yola–Fufore–Gurin Road in Adamawa State (N11.81 Billion) and Lamido Road in Taraba State (N7.68 Billion), out of the approved sum of N4.2 trillion,” Goje said.
He further emphasised the urgent need for reconstruction of several other critical roads in the region, including:
“Bauchi–Gombe Road, Biu–Gombe Road, Potiskum–Gombe Road, Darazo–Gombe Road, Numan–Jalingo Road, Yola–Mubi Road, Yola–Michika–Madagali–Gwoza–Bama Road, Biu–Damboa–Maiduguri Road, Biu–Damaturu Road among others, which desperately require serious reconstruction and rehabilitation.”
He expressed concerns that the North East is the only region not connected to the Super Highway project, stressing the importance of ensuring equitable infrastructure development across all zones.
The Senate adopted Goje’s motion but amended one of his prayers.
Instead of calling on the Federal Government to rehabilitate only North East roads, the Senate broadened the request to cover all deplorable roads nationwide.
During the debate, several senators supported Goje’s motion but also highlighted the poor condition of roads in their constituencies.
Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West), the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, clarified that the N4.2 trillion coastal road projects were not allocated based on geopolitical zones.
“The N4.2 trillion coastal road projects strictly cover the Badagry–Sokoto and Lagos–Calabar coastal roads. For existing road projects nationwide, Mr President has set aside N500 billion for continued rehabilitation without excluding any zone,” Adeola explained.
In his closing remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stressed the need for a sustainable road rehabilitation and maintenance plan across Nigeria.
He noted that if previous administrations had prioritised infrastructure as the Tinubu administration is doing, the nation’s roads would not have deteriorated to their current state.
The Senate’s call reinforces the demand for balanced infrastructure development, ensuring no region is left behind in the government’s major road projects.
