The Senate has called on the executive to include the North East Road in the “Renewed Hope Legacy Road Infrastructure Projects” of the federal government.
The Senate said the North East was the only zone left out of the six geopolitical zones in the projects despite its economic importance to the country.
Senator Danjuma Goje, who represents Gombe Central Senatorial District and former governor, sponsored the motion that led to the resolution.
He expressed his disappointment over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s exclusion of the North East from his legacy projects.
Goje highlighted the concern and apprehension felt by the people of the North East after the Federal Ministry of Works announced the planned legacy road infrastructure project across the country without any provision for their region.
He said the inclusion of the zone would contribute to the current administration’s vision of making Nigeria the largest economy in Africa.
Senator Goje said, “This bold initiative is part of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope developmental agenda, which, upon completion, will undoubtedly interconnect the country and bring about unprecedented socioeconomic growth as well as foster national unity and integration.”
He pointed out that the North East, consisting of the states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe, was excluded from the interconnected roads of the legacy projects and pleaded for their consideration.
Supporting the motion, Senator Diket Plang, representing Plateau Central Senatorial District, said a similar motion on road infrastructure in the North Central that is linked to the North East. He highlighted the neglect of the North East and North Central regions regarding road development and called for urgent attention.
Senator Solomon Lalong, representing Plateau South Senatorial District, supported the motion and urged all the senators to back it.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended Goje for presenting a motion that aligned with the people’s interests. He upheld the prayer to include the North East Road in the legacy projects.