Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri
The Boko Haram insurgency has continued to take a toll on Borno State as seven major road constructions have had to be suspended.
Due to the insurgency which at its peak had 22 of the 27 local governments of the state overran by the terrorist groups, several billions of naira were lost as a result of massive destruction of infrastructure.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the Borno State Commissioner of Works and Transport, Alhaji Adamu Lawan, said seven major rural based projects remain abandoned even with the recapture of the 22 local governments which were occupied by the insurgents at the peak of the expansionist reign on the troubled state.
He said some of the areas with the abandoned projects are yet to be cleared by the military and it was impossible to get contractors back on site.
The projects, Adamu said include construction of selected roads and drainage in remote parts of Maiduguri, Jere and Mafa local government areas; construction of road from Gamboru to Wulgo in Ngala Local Government Area, construction of dual carriageway between Gamboru and Ngala towns and construction of roads and drainage within Gamboru and Ngala towns.
He said also abandoned construction of roads and drainage in Dikwa town, construction of Dikwa-Gulumba-Banki road, construction of Wandeo-Chul-Mussa-Hyum-Dike-Lassa road and construction of road between Baga town to Doro.
The commissioner said traffic lights are planned to be built during this year at 28 locations within the state capital. This he said will cost N300 million.
Adamu said in order to address the shortage of accommodation to cater for the need of visitors to the state and public use, the government has acquired nine additional properties.
He said that 25 projects were completed in 2017 and 14 others which are still ongoing all across the state, promising that eight roads have been proposed for construction through concession.
