Borno
State Government officially commenced the construction of the first flyover in
the Northeast with a ceremonial launch by the governor, Prof. Babagana Umara on
Monday in Maiduguri.
The flyover, which is intended to ease traffic at the normally congested
Customs roundabout in Maiduguri, connects three routes, including linking
Maiduguri to Dikwa-Ngala economic road that leads to neighbouring
countries-Cameroon and Chad.
Umara, who flagged off the flyover, 2.4 kilometres long with two opposite lanes
on top the bridge and at the bottom, announced that a second flyover will
commence early next year, around the Post Office Roundabout at the centre of
Maiduguri.
He said he was opening up the state capital as part of responses to increase in
number of vehicles on the road caused by population growth that is largely
instigated by forced migration of families who have permanently settled in
Maiduguri as a result of displacement by insurgents.
He said new routes are also expected to
contribute to better flow of traffic on matters of security and emergencies.
The governor said he intends to complete and start many roads this year as
already provided for in the budget that was recently signed into law.
He said his intention is to ensure that roads like Maiduguri-Bama-Banki,
Maiduguri-Dikwa-Ngala, and Damboa-Chibok-Mbalala are delivered under his
current term in office.
He promised that ongoing and planned township roads will also be delivered
around Jiddari-Polo, Mala, Kyariri and Zannari areas of Maiduguri metropolis
and different parts of Biu, Monguno, Askira, Ngala and Gwoza local government
areas of the state.
Contract for the construction of the flyover was awarded to a Chinese
construction firm, Eighteenth Engineering International Limited at the cost of
N4.2 billion from which 30% mobilisation fee has already been released.
