Construction work is starting in Nigeria for a $915 million highway upgrade project. The 125km road linking Gombe, Biu and Maiduguri in the North East of Nigeria will be upgraded so that it features two lanes in either direction. The project will provide an improved transport link and a much-needed economic boost and greater political stability for the country’s less-developed North East once complete. It will also provide improved transport to neighbouring Cameroon and Chad, boosting Nigeria’s international links.
The upgraded road will also provide a link to the town of Jalingo once complete. A notable feature of the project is that the road surface will be concrete rather than asphalt. The latter is used more widely in Nigeria but several roads have been built using concrete pavement in the country in recent years. Nigeria’s Ministry of Works has stated that using concrete will reduce maintenance needs and allow a long working life for the road.
