Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (Rtd), CFR, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the N1.245 trillion Gombe-Biu dualization project, describing it as one of the most significant infrastructure interventions in Nigeria’s North East since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, Buratai expressed appreciation to the President for reviving the strategic highway, originally constructed in 1962, noting that the project aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving critical infrastructure across the country.
According to the retired army chief, the dualization of the 139-kilometre road will stimulate economic activities, facilitate trade and transportation, and strengthen regional integration among states in the North East.
Buratai also praised the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, as well as the Governors of Gombe and Borno states, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and Babagana Umara Zulum, for their collaboration and support toward the actualisation of the project.
He stressed that beyond its economic benefits, the highway would play a strategic role in enhancing national security by serving as a major military logistics corridor.
“The road will significantly improve the movement of troops, deployment of military equipment, and reinforcement of supply chains across the North East, thereby strengthening ongoing counter-insurgency operations and contributing to lasting peace and stability in the region,” he said.
Buratai described the project as a transformative investment capable of unlocking the economic potential of the region while reinforcing the government’s commitment to security, development, and national integration.
He urged residents and stakeholders to support the successful execution of the project, expressing confidence that it would deliver lasting socio-economic and security benefits to the people of the North East and the country at large.
