The Borno State government on Sunday reopened the Maiduguri-Dikwa road, five years after it was closed as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency.
NAN reports that the 86km road was closed to motorists in 2015 at the peak of Boko Haram activities in the Northern part of the state.
Governor Babagana Zulum, accompanied by the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi and the General Officer Commanding 7 Division Operation Lafiya Dole, Brig.-Gen. Abdul Khalifa, reopened the road.
Governor Zulum, in his remark, commended the Nigerian military for its successes in degrading ‘Boko Haram’ insurgents that had been terrorising people in the state.
He said that the reopening of the road would resuscitate socio-economic activities, especially fishing businesses, crippled in the Lake Chad region.
He explained that motorists travelling on the road would move freely to their destination without military escort following improved security.
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Zulum stated that the government was also consulting with the military to ensure that travellers on the Ngala and Kala balge roads move without being escorted.
He warned members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and other unions against extorting commuters on the highway.
“Everybody in Borno is aware of what is going on the highways. It is not something new and our presence here is not to vindicate anybody.
“The Nigerian law does not prohibit the transportation of good within the state. So therefore, you cannot ask a driver to pay money for transporting sachet water anywhere within the state.
“How can you transport pure water and tomatoes and you are ask to pay N19, 000 for a six-tyre vehicle.
“This government and the people will fight to see an end to these activities in Borno,” he said.
He said that the government would regulate activities of lorries and trucks in the state.
While donating six patrol vehicles to the Nigerian military in Mafa, Zulum said the gesture was in an effort to compliment the federal government’s effort to curtail insurgency.
Speaking earlier, Adeniyi warned that any driver who gives money at any check point would be arrested and prosecuted.
He also warned the officials of the NURTW against imposing unnecessary charges and levies on commuters thereby exposing them to untold hardship.
“It is generally known that it is very difficult for business to thrive if there is no peace and security. It is also a known fact that Boko Haram is using some of the fishing businesses to fund their campaign of terror,” he said.
Adeniyi said that the military was ready to provide enabling environment for the fishing activities to thrive, but warned that under no circumstances should the community pay money, assistance or gratification to the Boko haram.
“If we find you collaborating with Boko Haram or giving them gratification secretly, we will stop you from doing the fishing activities,” he warned.
Also speaking, Alhaji Bello Moduganari, the Borno NURTW Chairman, and Alhaji Abacha Mandala, the Chairman of Fish Farmers Association of Nigeria, commended the government for reopening of the road.
Moduganari assured the government of the union’s cooperation to the military’s counter insurgency operations.
Mandala also said that the reopening of the road would revamp fishing activities and provide livelihood to millions of fishermen in the state. (NAN)
