By Abdulkareem Haruna

Maiduguri, Borno State – The Borno State government today officially flagged off the construction of another  major  overhead project at the Post Office area of Maiduguri, a central and notoriously congested part of the city.

Governor Babagana Zulum presided over the groundbreaking ceremony, marking the commencement of a project budgeted at ₦15 billion.

The Overhead bridge, which has been in the planning stages since Governor Zulum assumed office in 2019, is anticipated to be completed within a 10-month timeframe.

Speaking at the flag-off event, Governor Zulum emphasized the importance of the project in alleviating the persistent traffic congestion that plagues the Post Office area, a hub of commercial and administrative activities in Maiduguri.

In a move aimed at ensuring the timely completion of the infrastructure, Governor Zulum announced that 50 per cent of the total contract sum, amounting to ₦7 billion, has already been disbursed to the contractor.

Addressing the construction firm directly, the governor stated firmly, “You don’t have any excuse for failure to complete the project in the stipulated time, because we have paid 50 percent of the contract sum, and so you have to work within time because there will be no variation.”

The Post Office area is known for its high volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, often leading to significant delays and frustration for commuters and businesses alike.

The construction of the Overhead  is expected to streamline traffic flow, reduce travel times, and enhance connectivity within the city.
Residents and business owners in Maiduguri have long awaited a solution to the traffic gridlock in this central district.

The post office overhead may be the last of the major civil engineering project project promised by the Governor Babagana Zulum administration which are designed towards modernizing the city’s infrastructure and improving the daily lives of its inhabitants.