Ndume praises Tinubu, Umahi over N1.2trn Gombe–Biu highway development

By Taiwo Scholarstica

Former Senate Leader and Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume has commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for commencing the reconstruction and dualisation of the 125-kilometre Gombe–Biu highway.

The N1.245 trillion project was officially flagged off on Thursday at Liji in Gombe State. The event was attended by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Umahi, and the Managing Director of Hi-Tech Construction Company, Danny Abboud.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, Ndume described the project as a fulfilment of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to rehabilitating critical road infrastructure in the North-East. He recalled repeatedly drawing attention to the poor state of the road over the years because of its importance to economic activities, security operations and regional integration.

According to him, he first raised concerns about the highway in 2019 during an engagement with former Works Minister Babatunde Fashola. He said he also advocated for the road’s inclusion in federal infrastructure priorities during discussions with the Ministry of Works in 2021.

Ndume further revealed that a letter he wrote to Umahi on February 11, 2026, highlighting the exclusion of the Biu–Damboa–Maiduguri corridor from the administration’s legacy projects, contributed to renewed attention for the route. He noted that the Federal Executive Council later approved the Gombe–Biu road under the federal tax credit and infrastructure intervention framework.

He said the rehabilitation and dualisation of the highway would boost economic activities, improve connectivity and strengthen regional integration across the North-East. While appreciating Tinubu for approving the project, Ndume appealed for its extension to Maiduguri, Monguno, Ngala and Yola to enhance trade, border connectivity and security operations in the region.