Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the N1.245 trillion Gombe-Biu Highway dualisation project, describing the initiative as one of the most significant infrastructure investments in Nigeria’s Northeast in recent decades. He said the project represents a major step toward addressing long-standing developmental challenges in the region while opening new opportunities for economic growth, improved security, and regional integration.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Buratai noted that the highway, originally constructed in 1962, has suffered years of deterioration despite its strategic importance to millions of residents across the Northeast. According to him, the decision by the Federal Government to reconstruct and dualise the road demonstrates a strong commitment to infrastructure renewal and aligns with the administration’s broader agenda of improving transportation networks across the country.
The N1.245 trillion project involves the reconstruction and dualisation of the 125-kilometre Gombe-Biu corridor and forms part of a wider road network expected to strengthen connectivity across the Northeast. The Federal Government recently flagged off the project in Gombe State, with the Minister of Works, David Umahi, representing President Tinubu at the ceremony. The project will be executed by Hi-Tech Construction Company using rigid pavement technology, which government officials say will provide greater durability and reduce long-term maintenance costs. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Buratai stressed that the road project has implications far beyond transportation. He argued that improved road infrastructure will enhance the movement of goods and people, stimulate commercial activities, attract investment, and support agricultural and industrial development across the region. He further noted that better road connectivity would strengthen security operations and improve access to communities that have historically faced challenges due to poor infrastructure.
The former military chief also commended the Federal Government for recognising the strategic importance of the Northeast, a region that has for years advocated greater investment in infrastructure. He expressed optimism that the project would help unlock the economic potential of the area while creating jobs and improving living standards for residents. According to him, the approval of the highway reflects responsive leadership and a willingness to address critical concerns affecting ordinary Nigerians.
The Gombe-Biu Highway project has attracted widespread praise from political leaders and stakeholders across the Northeast. Former Gombe State Governor and Senator, Danjuma Goje, as well as Senator Ali Ndume, have both welcomed the development, describing it as a transformative initiative capable of boosting trade, improving transportation, strengthening regional integration, and enhancing the quality of life for millions of people across the region.
As construction begins, expectations remain high that the massive infrastructure project will not only revive a critical transport corridor but also serve as a catalyst for economic expansion, national integration, and sustainable development throughout the Northeast. Supporters of the initiative believe that successful completion of the highway could become one of the defining infrastructure achievements of the current administration and a major milestone in the region’s development journey.
