Bauchi Speaker Urges Inclusion of Bauchi–Kano Federal Highway Repairs in 2026 Budget

The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Abubakar Y. Suleiman (Dangaladiman Ningi), has called on relevant authorities to include the repair of the Bauchi–Kano Federal Highway in the 2026 national budget.

In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Mukhtar Garba Kobi, the Speaker described the move as a necessary step to address the prolonged and unbearable hardships faced by commuters on the route. He lamented that the dilapidated state of the highway has led to frequent accidents, loss of lives, and destruction of valuables worth millions of naira.

According to the Speaker, the 138-kilometer Bauchi–Ningi–Jigawa–Kano Federal Highway serves as a vital link between five states in the North-East and North-Central regions to the commercial hub of Kano. He emphasized that the road carries huge volumes of daily traffic but has deteriorated to a dangerous condition that poses grave risks to motorists.

Dr. Suleiman noted that rehabilitation work commenced in 2023, covering about 10 kilometers from the Bauchi Airport Junction to Futuru village, but was suspended in early 2024 due to lack of budgetary allocation in both the 2024 and 2025 appropriations.

He further disclosed that letters had been sent to both the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as to the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), appealing for intervention and funding support. The Speaker expressed deep concern that travel time on the route has drastically increased—turning what was once a one-hour trip into several hours, particularly along the Bauchi–Babaldu axis.

Speaking on behalf of his Ningi Central Constituency and other affected communities, the Speaker appealed to the National Assembly’s Committee on Appropriation to allocate adequate funds to FERMA for the rehabilitation of the road.

Dr. Suleiman affirmed that the repair of the Bauchi–Kano Federal Highway would bring relief to road users, revive economic activities, improve livelihoods, and significantly reduce the rate of accidents along the corridor.