Senator Ndume Urges Tinubu to Launch Special Priority Projects in North East

Senator Ndume Urges Tinubu to Launch Special Priority Projects in North East

Senator Ali Ndume has called on the Federal Government to initiate special priority projects in the North East, stressing that the region has been left behind in infrastructural development for over 15 years due to insurgency.

The lawmaker, who represents Borno South, made the appeal in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, commending the North East Governors Forum for their recent visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Special Presidential Priority Projects, according to him, are strategic national infrastructure initiatives requiring urgent attention and resources beyond routine operations.

During Wednesday’s meeting at the Presidential Villa, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, who chairs the North East Governors Forum, listed 17 critical road projects that have been neglected for decades. These include the Kano-Maiduguri Road, Port Harcourt-Jos-Bauchi-Maiduguri Railway line, Bama-Mubi-Yola Road, Wukari-Jalingo-Yola Road, Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Damaturu Road, Damaturu-Geidam Road, and Maiduguri-Monguno-Baga Road, among others.

The governors also requested the resumption of oil exploration in frontier wells, particularly at Kolmani and Lake Chad.

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Ndume emphasized that the North East deserves urgent intervention, noting that contractors can now safely return to project sites due to significant military gains against insurgents.

He said: “Fifteen years down the line, there hasn’t been any meaningful infrastructural development in the North East as it has been ravaged by the insurgents. In view of this, I suggest that the present administration should give priority to the region and make provision for its urgent infrastructural needs in the 2025 Supplementary Budget. Now that insurgents have receded as a result of efforts by our military who have regained lost grounds, contractors can now move to sites.”

Ndume also urged North East governors not to relent in championing initiatives that will improve the lives of citizens in the region.