The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has officially handed over the site for the reconstruction of the Damaturu–Magza road, a critical corridor linking Yobe and Borno States and considered one of the region’s most economically significant routes.
The first phase of the project— a 25-kilometre stretch from Damaturu to Buni Yadi — was formally handed over to Greyland Multiple Investment Limited, the contracting firm responsible for the reconstruction.
Speaking during the ceremony, NEDC’s Yobe State Coordinator, Professor Ali Ibrahim Abbas, described the project as part of the Commission’s post-insurgency recovery efforts under the leadership of its MD/CEO, Mohammed G. Alkali. He noted that the initiative complements ongoing infrastructural development by the administration of Governor Mai Mala Buni.
“This event marks the official handover of the project site for the 25km asphalt overlay of the Damaturu–Buni–Magza road. We are here with the Commissioner of Works, the contractor, and the consultant teams to ensure immediate commencement of work,” Abbas stated.
Yobe State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Umaru Wakili Duddaye, expressed appreciation to the NEDC for its sustained interventions. He described the Damaturu–Magza route as one of the most crucial roads in the state, second only to the Damaturu–Maiduguri highway in economic relevance. Duddaye also expressed confidence in the capacity of Greyland Multiple Investment Limited, an indigenous firm familiar with the terrain, to deliver a quality project within schedule.
Responding, the company’s Managing Director, Musa Abubakar Usman, assured that the project would be completed ahead of the deadline. He commended both the NEDC and Governor Buni for their confidence, pledging to deliver a standard job despite emerging security challenges.
“Insha Allah, we are determined to complete the work successfully, just as we did in Geidam at the height of the insurgency,” he said.
The 77-kilometre project spans Damaturu, Gujba, Buni Yadi, Buni Gari, and terminates in Magza, connecting Yobe State to Biu in Borno State. Its reconstruction is expected to enhance mobility, stimulate economic activity, and improve access to essential services across the region.
Earlier this year, NEDC’s MD/CEO, Mohammed G. Alkali, and the Executive Director of Administration and Finance, Dr. Abubakar Garba Iliya, inspected the deteriorated road and pledged its rehabilitation. In 2025 alone, the Commission is undertaking two major road projects and six bridge constructions across Damaturu, Gujba, Jumbam, Kaliyari, Potiskum, and other communities.
These projects align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to rebuild critical infrastructure in the Northeast, underscoring the NEDC’s commitment to sustainable development and post-insurgency recovery.
The Commission noted that additional infrastructure needs assessments are ongoing in collaboration with the Yobe State Government to guide future developmental interventions aimed at fostering peace, resilience, and long-term progress in the state.
