By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu
Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, is reshaping the state’s physical and economic landscape through massive investments in infrastructure. With strategic projects in roads, bridges, and urban renewal, the administration is laying a new foundation for sustainable growth, transforming towns, cities, and long-neglected rural communities.
Speaking with journalists in his office on Friday, the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Umar Wakil, highlighted Governor Buni’s vision, stressing that the infrastructure drive goes beyond concrete and asphalt to deliver lasting socio-economic impact.
“Governor Buni is building for the future. These projects are not just about mobility; they are tools to boost commerce, attract private investment, and improve the living standards of every Yobe resident.”
The Commissioner disclosed that the N22.3 billion Damaturu Flyover and Underpass Project—the first of its kind in the entire Northeast—is 58 percent complete. Major components such as beams and supporting pillars have already been fabricated and are ready for installation, he revealed, describing the project as a “landmark engineering feat.”
According to him, the project is already stimulating the local economy, creating thousands of jobs, and positioning Damaturu as a modern 21st-century capital city.
To complement the flyover, Wakil said the state government has embarked on an ambitious urban renewal programme, including the expansion of arterial roads, dualization of key township routes, the construction of 25km of new township roads, and the reconstruction of the 16km Damaturu Ring Road to ease congestion and support growth.
He emphasized that the infrastructure revolution is not limited to urban centres, noting that every local government area in Yobe has benefitted from road projects connecting rural communities. Among them are roads linking Daya, Ngojin, Maluri, Chukuriwa, Dawasa, Chimbusko, and Tagali.
“For the first time in generations, these communities are being brought into the mainstream of the state’s economy,” Wakil said.
Of strategic importance, he added, is the 46km Nguru–Bulanguwa–Kumagannam Road, which connects Kumagannam to Karasuwa and onward to Yunusari and Maimalari. In Yunusari LGA, roads now link Toshia and Dumbol, while the Mutai–Ngalda Road in Gujba, as well as projects in Jajere and Danchuwa, are opening up remote settlements.
“These roads are lifelines, and will reduce travel time for farmers, enable swift medical evacuations, and allow children to attend school safely. They are transforming lives for generations to come.”
