Ndume protests omission of Borno roads from 2026 ‘Legacy’ budget

2026-02-12 - 17:30

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has formally petitioned the Federal Ministry of Works over the exclusion of key road projects in Borno State from the 2026 “legacy” infrastructure budget. In a letter dated February 11, 2026, and addressed to the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, the lawmaker raised concerns over what he described as an incomplete design of the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe road corridor. The letter was sighted by our correspondent in Maiduguri on Thursday. The project, a major component of the administration’s Renewed Hope infrastructure plan, is designed to connect the North Central and North East regions through a high-capacity dual carriageway. However, details in the 2026 budget proposal indicate that the project currently terminates in Gombe State, without extending to Biu, Damboa and Maiduguri in Borno State. Ndume noted that Borno State, which has faced years of insurgency-related challenges, requires significant infrastructure support to aid economic recovery and regional integration. He urged the Federal Government to consider extending the project to cover the omitted areas. The senator also observed that Borno has not benefited substantially from the NNPCL-funded Tax Credit Road Projects initiative, a funding mechanism used in several other states to accelerate highway construction. “I believe Borno State should benefit from these legacy projects,” Ndume stated in the letter. “As security improves, the Federal Government should prioritize the rehabilitation of critical roads to support economic activities and recovery.” The development comes as the Minister of Works recently presented a ₦3.4 trillion budget proposal for 2026, which includes ₦760 billion earmarked for new projects. The minister had explained that some budgetary provisions serve as placeholders to maintain continuity of projects pending full funding. Ndume, however, called for a clear commitment to extend the dual carriageway beyond Gombe to key communities in Borno, arguing that sustainable development in the North East depends significantly on improved road infrastructure. He maintained that full integration of Borno into the corridor would enhance connectivity, trade and long-term stability in the region.