by Abdullahi Gambo  The Borno State Ministry of Works and Housing, under the leadership of Honourable Mustapha Gubio, has embarked on a comprehensive oversight visit to inspect the progress of major capital projects currently being executed across the Maiduguri metropolis.

The inspection, which took place between Monday, October 13, and Tuesday, October 14, 2025, underscores the ministry’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and quality infrastructure delivery.

In a Statement by the Information Officer, Ministry of Works and Housing, Abba Gana Mohammed stated that the Commissioner for Works and Housing, Engineer Mustapha Gubio, led the delegation, accompanied by the Chairman of the Borno State House Committee on Works and Housing, Hon. Abdullahi Buba Abatcha, and the Special Adviser to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Housing, Kori Shettima, as well as senior technical officers and ministry officials.

During the visit, the team inspected key sites, including the Shehu’s Palace Guest House, where the ministry is constructing a block of four semi-detached two-bedroom flats to serve as guest accommodation within the royal premises.

The Commissioner commended the work quality and reaffirmed the government’s recognition of the traditional institution as a vital development partner.

At Kasuwan Shanu, Honourable Gubio expressed concern over the slow progress of the dual carriageway and drainage project, emphasising that the four-month contract duration had elapsed.

He directed the contractors to fast-track completion and warned that the government will not tolerate any form of delay or compromise in quality.

The Commissioner and his team also visited Al-Ansar University along Gubio Road, where a 400-seater auditorium and lecture theatre, complete with offices and laboratories, are under construction.

After receiving a briefing from the project engineers, Honourable. Gubio charged them to maintain the ministry’s high standards to ensure the structure meets its academic and functional goals.

Similarly, the delegation inspected the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of Pompamari Bypass Road, a project expected to enhance smooth vehicular movement and improve safety within Maiduguri and stressed that the Zulum administration remains determined to modernise the state’s urban transport corridors.

The oversight continued to the Industrial Hub along Maiduguri–Kano Road, opposite Kashim Ibrahim University, where the Commissioner evaluated the ongoing road and drainage works.

He highlighted that the project is strategically positioned to boost economic activity, attract investors, and generate employment opportunities for residents.

The team also assessed progress at the Trailer Park and Six-Span Bridge across River Ngadda, where the Honourable Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work. He described both as critical components of Governor Zulum’s long-term vision to expand Maiduguri’s transportation infrastructure.

The tour concluded at the site of the nine-span Flyover Bridge at Post Office Roundabout, one of the administration’s landmark infrastructure projects. Site engineers briefed the delegation on progress, confirming that the project is on schedule for completion in December.

Speaking to newsmen at the end of the exercise, Hon. Mustapha Gubio expressed satisfaction with the overall performance across various sites. He assured residents that the Zulum administration will continue to uphold excellence in project delivery across the state.

The Commissioner reaffirmed that the Ministry of Works and Housing will sustain its routine project monitoring to guarantee that contractors comply with specifications and timelines.

The inspection team included members of the State House Committee on Works and Housing, Hon. Bukar Mustapha Dalatu, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Special Advisers, and other top management staff — demonstrating the government’s collective commitment to infrastructure development across Borno State.