Minister Commends NEDC For Rehabilitation Of Flood-damaged Borno Bridges

The Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, has commended the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for rehabilitating bridges damaged by the 2024 flood in Maiduguri and Jere Local Government Areas of Borno State.

Ahmadu gave the commendation on Monday during a two-day working visit to the state, where he inspected the ongoing rehabilitation of the nine-span, 180-metre Fori Bridge and the six-span, 120-metre Moromoro Bridge.

The two bridges were damaged by the devastating flood of September 2024, disrupting transportation and limiting access to several communities and essential facilities in the affected areas.

The minister also inspected the construction of a 250-capacity students’ hostel being undertaken by the NEDC at the Mohammed Lawan College of Agriculture, Maiduguri.

He said the projects were critical to addressing infrastructure deficits in the Northeast and improving the living conditions of residents.

Ahmadu noted that the rehabilitation of the Fori Bridge would ease transportation difficulties and improve access to schools, hospitals, workplaces and other facilities around the area.

He commended the NEDC management, led by its Managing Director, Mohammed Goni Alkali, for taking on the rehabilitation project despite the challenges involved.

According to him, the projects are in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Government’s Northeast Stabilisation Programme.

Speaking on the Moromoro Bridge, Ahmadu described it as a strategic infrastructure project because of its importance to communities, commercial activities and regional connectivity.

He said the bridge forms part of a key route linking communities and supporting trade with neighbouring countries.

The minister stressed that the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure would boost economic activities, enhance movement and strengthen connectivity across the region.

In his remarks, the NEDC Managing Director, Mohammed Goni Alkali, disclosed that the commission was currently constructing about 40 bridges across the six states of the Northeast.

The consultant for the Fori Bridge project, Engr. Kori Shettima, said the project was about 84 per cent complete.

Shettima explained that the remaining work included approximately 200 metres of road and drainage infrastructure, which would be completed alongside the final stages of the bridge rehabilitation.

Ahmadu is also expected to commission a fertility centre constructed by the NEDC at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital before returning to Abuja.