By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri
The Federal Government has commenced rehabilitation of the road linking the Northeast of the country to neighbouring Cameroon.
The road, Maiduguri-Dikwa road, according to the Acting Director-General of National Boundary Commission (NBC), Adamu Adaji would be rehabilitated under military’s watch to prevent attack from Boko Haram, which has made the road impassable for about a decade now.
The road, according to him, would be supervised by the Presidential Resettlement Committee.
The 85-kilometre road would open access to many communities affected by Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State.
The road, which link Maiduguri, the epicenter of Boko Haram with three local Governments, Mafa,
Dikwa and Marte, in the heart of Borno State, has become the den of Boko Haram largely
because of its bad state.
It was on this road that a convoy of Borno Governor Kashim Shettima on February 21, 2019 was attacked by Boko Haram.
Flagging off the project on Wednesday at Mafa, the Acting Director-General of National Boundary Commission (NBC), Adamu Adaji said the Presidency has approved funds to construct and repair the dilapidated road from Maiduguri to Dikwa.
He said: “Work on this road has commenced with the support of Nigerian Army.
The Acting General Officer Commanding of 7 Division; Brig. Gen. Abdulmalik Biu
will provide security for the commission to complete the project.”
Adaji said the road, which is expected to be completed in 41 days, will
link Cameroon and
other border communities in the Borno state.
He said the road was in compliance with 2002 International Court of Justice
(ICJ) ruling on border communities with Chad and Cameroon.
He noted that the road is important as it allows for the movement of 200-300
trucks daily loaded with industrial and household products to Cameroon, Chad,
Sudan, South Sudan, Niger and Central African Republic.
Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima revealed that earth dams are also to be
constructed between Dikwa and Mafa for farming and livestock production.
He also disclosed that an Asphalt plant is to be established in Dikwa to
expedite the completion of road projects in that axis of the state.