RESTORING MOBILITY THROUGH EMERGENCY INTERVENTIONS ON BAUCHI-GOMBE-BILLIRI-CHAM ROAD

To address nationwide infrastructure challenges, the Federal Ministry of Works commissioned key Emergency/Special Intervention Projects along the Bauchi–Gombe and Gombe–Cham corridors on Wednesday, 11 February, 2026, in Gombe State. As part of a nationwide media tour under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, these initiatives are among the 260 Emergency/Special Intervention Projects launched at the administration's inception in May, 2023, to restore critically damaged portions of federal highways across the country.

When the administration came into office, it inherited 2,064 ongoing projects with a debt overhang of over ₦13 trillion. In view of this fiscal burden and, most especially, the paucity of funds, priority was given to roads whose conditions had deteriorated to the point of near-total collapse or had already collapsed, to restore motorability, enhance safety, and facilitate the free movement of people, goods, and services.

On the alignment, a critical corridor linking Bauchi, Gombe, and Adamawa States, emergency works were executed in two complementary components: overlay of the carriageway and reinstatement of shoulders, alongside drainage improvements. Before the intervention, the road had suffered significant failure, posing safety risks and constraining socioeconomic activities. With the completion of the works, the carriageway has been strengthened, and riding quality significantly improved, while reinstated shoulders now allow motorists to park safely off the main carriageway, reducing obstruction and risk of accidents.

The Federal Controller of Works, Gombe State, Engr. Mohammed Jahun stated that the project was completed and has restored the safety and durability of the route, observing that traffic flow has improved considerably as a result of the intervention.

Commending the Federal Government’s efforts, Comrade Faruk Mu'azu, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Gombe State Chapter, described the rehabilitation as timely and impactful. “If you can recall vividly, this road before now was not motorable, but now, with the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Works, movement is free and without hitches”, he said. Comrade Mu’azu commissioned the project, as a representative of the Honourable Minister. He also extended a profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his approval of the award of a contract for the dualisation of the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe road. He emphasised that the expansion of the highway would significantly ease movement between the North Central, and North-East zones and serve as an enabler of growth.

Also commissioned by the NUJ Chairman was the Reinstatement of Failed Shoulders along the Gombe Bypass. The contract, completed within 3 months, covered 1.5km of road and 910m of drainage. Road users and residents, alike, eulogise the President for being proactive, heaving a sign of relief for alleviating their long-term suffering.

Another strategic and vital corridor, is the Gombe–Billiri–Cham Road, linking Gombe and Adamawa States. Three failed bridges along that stretch were singled out for urgent rehabilitation under the Emergency/Special Intervention due to safety concerns, particularly nighttime traveling. The scope of work included restoration of damaged handrails, rehabilitation of abutments, stone pitching, reconstruction of wing walls, and reinforcement of structural components to enhance stability and visibility.

The Federal Controller explained that the rehabilitation has eliminated previous hazards associated with the bridges, improving structural integrity and ensuring safer passage for road users.

The commissioning of these projects was done by the Chairman of the Gombe State Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Hudu Shehu, as he officially handed them over for public use, on behalf of the Minister. He prayed that the road would serve the interests of humanity, whilst contributing to the common good of the people. 

The Bauchi–Gombe component also forms part of the approved 4th Renewed Hope Legacy Road Project for dualisation from Akwanga through Jos to Bauchi and terminating in Gombe. Others are the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, and the Calabar–Abuja Highway, designed on continuous reinforced concrete pavements (CRCP) technology with street lights and rail lines to enhance connectivity across all six (6) geopolitical zones of the country.
 

THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF WORKS AND THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF NIGER STATE, H.E. MOHAMMED UMARU BAGO AT THE TOWN HALL MEETING AND STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 127-KILOMETRE, 3-LANE, SINGLE CARRIAGEWAY (NIGER STATE COMPONENT) OF THE 1,068-KILOMETRE SOKOTO - BADAGRY SUPERHIGHWAY IN MINNA, WEDNESDAY, 13TH NOVEMBER, 2024

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PICTURES FROM DAY 2 OF THE 29TH MEETING OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON WORKS

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