Borno State government has officially commenced the construction of its first flyover.
At a ceremonial launch by the governoron Monday in Maiduguri, Prof. Babagana Umara said the construction of the flyover is imperative to respond to the growing migration and traffic in the State.
The flyover, which is intended to ease traffic at the normally congested Customs roundabout in Maiduguri, links Maiduguri to Dikwa-Ngala economic road which further leads to Cameroon and Chad.
Umara, who flagged off the flyover, 2.4 kilometres long with two opposite lanes on top the bridge and at the bottom, announced that a second flyover will commence early next year, around the Post Office Roundabout at the centre of Maiduguri.
He said he was opening up the state capital as part of responses to increase in number of vehicles on the road caused by population growth that is largely instigated by forced migration of families who have permanently settled in Maiduguri as a result of displacement by insurgents.
He said new routes are also expected to contribute to better flow of traffic on matters of security and emergencies.
The governor said he intends to complete and start many road projects this year as already provided for in the budget that was recently signed into law.
He said his intention is to ensure that roads like Maiduguri-Bama-Banki, Maiduguri-Dikwa-Ngala, and Damboa-Chibok-Mbalala are delivered under his current term in office.
He promised that ongoing and planned township roads will also be delivered around Jiddari-Polo, Mala, Kyariri and Zannari areas of Maiduguri metropolis and different parts of Biu, Monguno, Askira, Ngala and Gwoza local government areas of the state.
The project was awarded to a Chinese construction firm, Eighteenth Engineering International Limited, at the cost of N4.2 billion from which 30% mobilization fee has already been released.