Connect with us

National News

Insurgency: Truck drivers spends over N7b yearly to deliver goods, services in Borno

Published

on

Insurgency: Truck drivers spends over N7b yearly to deliver goods, services in Borno

Insurgency: Truck drivers spends over N7b yearly to deliver goods, services in Borno

Truck drivers plying Maiduguri – Konduga – Bama – Banki Road, which is approximately 150km are said to be spending an estimated Seven Billion and Five Hundred Million Naira yearly on these deplorable roads burdened by constant attacks from fighters of Islamic State for West African Province, ISWAP and members of the Jama’atul Ahalil Sunnah also known as JAS.

Sheikh Abdallah Yerwama, a Borno indigene who made the observation from his research on spending by these truck drivers said that the Federal government can save the future of the Nigerian youths if it takes into consideration ways to secure these roads and also generate revenue from them.

He said “If I were Federal Government, I will rent out the entire highway to willing investors since I cannot invest, and officially put up a levy to increase revenue instead of allowing the money to go into the hands of uniform and non-uniform men that are in charge of these roads on a daily basis.”

Also Read: In 16 years of power: Angela Merkel did not appoint any of…

He observed that there are many similar roads like this one in Borno state with the Maiduguri – Mafa – Dikwa – Ngala Road that witnesses the same number of trucks, spending similar amounts of money to ferry goods. 

Taking a measurement and evaluation analysis of the amount of money being spent on these roads, he calculated the average mean per day to arrive at N250,000.00, each for 250 trucks, translated to N62,500,000.00. Adding that, in x 10 days the result could be as much as N625,000,000.00 and in x 12 months getting to an estimation of about N7,500,000,000.00 (Seven Billion and Five Hundred Million Naira).

He said, “This is approximately what is being generated along that route alone. And if other routes are to be put together with the data available of what these truck drivers spend daily, Borno state can comfortably reduce burdens on other projects seeking government attention where the resources are limited for the execution of such projects.”

Our Correspondent also spoke with some citizens who share the same view as observed by Mr. Abdallah Yerwama looking at the statistical presentation of his argument on the need for the government to look into this source of revenue generation for the state.

While speaking on the observation, Adamu Ibrahim an M&E Specialist in Borno said with the deplorable condition of the roads in Borno and the increasing insecurity on the road, the government maybe thinking differently but this is an opportunity for government to look into this observation and beginning to make sense of it to generate more revenue for the state.

“I believe there are investors who may be willing to invest their monies onto ventures like this. And this is not about the short term but looking at the long term plan. If these roads according to the observation and evaluation made can bring this amount of money in a year, I can tell you that this is good business.

“But the problem with our business men is that no one wants to take such risk and if any investor come now and begin to make money out of this, they will come with hammer on such investor especially if he is not an indigene or even if indigene there would be attacks from some quota by vested interest who wants to go into such businesses because it is succeeding.” He said.

Insurgency: Truck drivers spends over N7b yearly to deliver goods, services in Borno

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

National News

VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution

Published

on

VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution

By: Michael Mike

Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep grief over the passing of prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, saying the nation has lost an irreplaceable institution.

The late Dantata, an uncle of Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, passed away at the age of 94 in Abu Dhabi in the early hours of Saturday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Mustapha Abdullahi Junaid, his Personal Private Secretary (PPS), who confirmed the death.

In a condolence message, Vice President Shettima praised the late businessman for his lifetime of service, describing him as “a living bridge that connected us to our past.

“We have not just lost a leader; we have lost an irreplaceable institution,” Senator Shettima said, describing Dantata as “one of the greatest titans in Nigeria’s philosophical history” whose departure marks the end of a vital chapter in the country’s economic and democratic evolution.

“In African tradition, when such an elderly person transitions, a vital chapter of our history departs with them. He was indeed among the great titans, a living bridge that connected us to our past,” VP Shettima added.

The Vice President extended heartfelt condolences to the Dantata family, expressing hopes that they would “find the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” even as he prayed that Almighty Allah would grant the deceased Jannatul Firdaus.

Born into the legendary Dantata family of Kano, Alhaji Aminu built on his father’s commercial legacy to become one of Nigeria’s most influential business figures. His empire spans construction, manufacturing, banking, agriculture, and the oil and gas sectors.

Beyond business, Dantata was renowned for his extensive philanthropic work, funding schools, mosques, health centres, and supporting widows and the underprivileged across Nigeria.

VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution

Continue Reading

National News

Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Meet in Abuja to Prepare for Upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting

Published

on

Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Meet in Abuja to Prepare for Upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting

By: Michael Mike

The Senior Officials Meeting between Nigeria and the European Union (EU) will be held on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd July 2025 in Abuja to prepare for the upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting and to explore areas of cooperation.

A statement on Saturday by the Press Officer, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Modestus Chukwulaka, read: “The Delegation of European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS wishes to inform that the Senior Officials Meeting between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) will be held on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd July 2025 in Abuja.

“The agenda of the very important meeting is to prepare for the upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting and to explore areas of cooperation.”

According to the statement, the Senior Officials Meeting will be co-chaired by the Regions, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria, Ambassador Janet Olisa, Director, and the Deputy Managing Director for Africa Department, European External Action Service, European Union, Mr Mathieu Briens.

The statement revealed that the agenda of the meeting is expected to entail wide-ranging discussions that would focus on various aspects of the Nigeria – EU partnership, such as: Cooperation on multilateral and regional issues; Peace, Security and Governance; Humanitarian situation; Trade and Investment; Human Development: Health, Education, Social Protection; Science, technology, innovation and digital transition; Migration; Energy, climate change and green economy transition among others.

Nigeria and the European Union share a deep, long-standing partnership inspired by mutual values and interests as well as support for multilateralism and rule-based international order, the statement said.

Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Meet in Abuja to Prepare for Upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting

Continue Reading

National News

Farida Waziri Tasks Benue Leaders to Unite, Act and Save Their People

Published

on

Farida Waziri Tasks Benue Leaders to Unite, Act and Save Their People


…. Donates relief materials to displaced persons in Yelwata, IDP camp

By: Michael Mike

Former Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri has charged former governors, legislators, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in Benue state to set aside rivalry, unite and act with urgency to save their people from incessant attacks and killings.

Waziri, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police and Principal Partner, Brookfield Chambers Abuja stated this on Saturday 28th June 2025 while donating relief materials to victims of the recent gunmen attacks in Yelwata community and displaced persons at the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.

Some of the items donated under the banner of Women, Youth, Children and Crime Organisation (WYCCO), a non-governmental organization founded by her, include: bags of rice, sugar, tubers of yam and other household items.

She said: “This is no time for division. It is no time for political squabbling or ego-driven manoeuvring. Among us are men and women who have led this state — former governors, legislators, traditional rulers — individuals with influence and authority. The time has come to set aside our differences and stand united, for the sake of the ordinary Benue man, woman, and child.

“That is why I stand here today to make this urgent and heartfelt appeal to our leaders: cast aside rivalry, unite, and act. Act with urgency. Act with purpose. Because what we face now increasingly resembles a deliberate, coordinated effort to erase our people and our heritage.

“We must take heed of the words of Sir Winston Churchill, who once said:
‘Our difficulties and dangers will not be removed by closing our eyes to them.’
Another of Churchill’s warnings is just as relevant to our present predicament:
‘If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed… you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival.”

Waziri, while stating that her call was a build up to the earlier proposal by President Bola Tinubu during his recent visit Beforehand Benue, noted that meetings alone would not solve the problem, urging that: “But let us be sincere: peace will not come from meetings alone. To end the cycle of violence, we must confront its roots. Before the Yelwata massacre, communities in Gwer West, Apa, and Guma had already endured weeks of killings, kidnappings, and raids. These horrors did not emerge in a vacuum; they are symptoms of deeper issues.

“We must therefore confront the real causes — ethnic and religious tensions, unchecked banditry, and the rise of cultism as well as the abuse of illicit drugs. These forces must be tackled, along with the herder-farmer conflict, with honesty and courage. We cannot afford to keep going in circles. And there is no room for blame games. Our leaders — and indeed, all of us — must be pragmatic. So today, let us commit, as one people, to healing our wounds, reclaiming our land, and ensuring that never again will a child in Benue grow up in a camp instead of a home”

She said the development in Benue must be of “concern to all sons and daughters of Benue regardless of whether we live within its borders or far away in the diaspora to find out the root cause of these attacks with a view to proferring solutions that will bring an end to these barbaric acts”

Farida Waziri Tasks Benue Leaders to Unite, Act and Save Their People

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights