Bauchi Speaker Seeks Inclusion of Bauchi–Kano Highway Repair in 2026 Budget
The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Abubakar Y. Suleiman (Dangaladiman Ningi), has called on relevant federal authorities to include the rehabilitation of the Bauchi–Kano Federal Highway in the 2026 national budget.
The Speaker said the move became imperative to alleviate the severe hardships faced by commuters and residents along the route, which has become nearly impassable due to its deplorable condition. He lamented that the poor state of the highway has resulted in frequent accidents, loss of lives, and destruction of properties worth millions of naira.
In a letter addressed to both the Senate and the House of Representatives, Dr. Suleiman described the 138-kilometre Bauchi–Ningi–Jigawa–Kano Federal Highway as a major arterial route linking at least five states in the Northeast and North-Central regions to the commercial hub of Kano.
According to him, the road carries heavy daily traffic but has deteriorated to a dangerous level. He recalled that although repair work commenced in 2023, covering about 10 kilometres from Bauchi Airport Junction to Futuru village, the project was suspended in early 2024 due to lack of funding in the 2024 and 2025 federal budgets.
The Speaker also wrote to the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), reminding it of earlier discussions regarding the road. He noted that its condition has worsened, with journeys that previously took one hour now stretching into several hours, particularly along the Bauchi–Babaldu axis.
Dr. Suleiman appealed to the House Committee on Appropriations to allocate substantial funding to FERMA in the 2026 budget to enable it to undertake the long-overdue repairs.
He emphasized that fixing the road would not only ease transportation difficulties but also boost economic activities, enhance livelihoods, and reduce the frequent road accidents that have plagued the area.
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