Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume of Borno South has formally protested the exclusion of key road networks in his state from the Federal Government’s proposed 2026 “legacy” infrastructure projects, citing a critical gap in regional connectivity.
In a letter dated February 11, 2026, addressed to Works Minister David Umahi, Ndume argued that the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe road corridor, as presented in the budget, terminates in Gombe State without extending to major transit routes linking Biu, Damboa, and Maiduguri in Borno. He described these omitted corridors as vital for the region’s economic recovery and security.
The senator referenced page eight of the minister’s budget presentation, which outlines four legacy projects under the Renewed Hope Administration. “The road project from Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe terminates in Gombe without an inroad to Biu/Damboa/Maiduguri all in Borno State,” Ndume wrote. He further noted that Borno was the only state in the North East where the president won the 2023 election, asserting that the state should therefore be a primary beneficiary of the administration’s flagship projects. Additionally, he pointed out Borno’s exclusion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL)-funded tax credit road projects, urging ministerial intervention to address the state’s “failed and critical roads.”
Ndume’s letter requests a review of the project scope to incorporate the Borno corridors, emphasizing that improved road infrastructure is essential for trade, mobility, and stability in a region still grappling with the aftermath of conflict. The Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe axis is a key economic corridor, and connecting it to Borno’s interior would enhance cross-state commerce and access for one of Nigeria’s largest states by area.
The protest highlights ongoing concerns about equitable distribution of federal infrastructure projects in the North East. It places pressure on the Ministry of Works to reconsider the project design before final allocations are made. A response from the minister and any potential adjustment to the 2026 infrastructure plan are now anticipated as stakeholders watch for signs of policy recalibration toward the region.
