By Onu Okorie

Federal Government has launched construction work on two major roads in Borno State, part of an ongoing push to rebuild infrastructure in a region long affected by insurgency.

Vice President Kashim Shettima performed the flag-off ceremony on Saturday at Muna City Gate along the Maiduguri–Dikwa–Gamboru road, standing in for President Bola Tinubu.

The projects cover the 49.55-kilometre Dikwa–Gamboru–Ngala road and the 44.15-kilometre Bama–Banki road, both to be built using continuous reinforced concrete pavement.

Minister of State for Works Bello Muhammad Goronyo told the gathering that the roads amount to more than transport links, framing them as corridors that will support farming, cut the cost of moving goods, draw in private investors, generate jobs and boost trade with neighbouring countries.

He added that the routes would give the military dependable, all-season access to the Lake Chad Basin, an area central to the fight against Boko Haram and allied groups, while also making it easier for residents to reach hospitals, schools and humanitarian aid.

The event drew Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, Works Minister David Umahi, Dangote Group president Aliko Dangote, lawmakers, traditional and religious leaders, among other guests.

Goronyo praised Umahi for what he described as a period of reform at the Works Ministry marked by greater transparency and faster project delivery, and credited Zulum with steady cooperation on rebuilding the state after years of conflict.

He also singled out Dangote Industries for backing the projects through the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, calling the arrangement a model of how private capital can support public infrastructure. Goronyo said the contractor would be held to strict standards on quality, safety and timelines, with the ministry keeping close oversight as work proceeds.

Closing his remarks, the minister thanked President Tinubu for prioritising infrastructure and stability in the North-East, and thanked Vice President Shettima for attending on the president’s behalf, calling it a signal of the government’s continued focus on the region’s recovery.

Officials said the two roads are expected to help open up the North-East economically, tie the region more closely to the rest of the country, and improve daily life for communities across Borno.