Yobe–Borno road through Biu: A federal road in ruin

In Nigeria, festive reunions, weddings, and burials are woven into the cultural fabric—often requiring long-distance travel by road. Yet in the northeastern region, the journey can be both perilous and painfully slow. The federal highway that links Yobe State to Borno State through Biu is roughly 120 km long (Damaturu to Biu), part of key infrastructure […]

In Nigeria, festive reunions, weddings, and burials are woven into the cultural fabric—often requiring long-distance travel by road. Yet in the northeastern region, the journey can be both perilous and painfully slow.

The federal highway that links Yobe State to Borno State through Biu is roughly 120 km long (Damaturu to Biu), part of key infrastructure supporting agriculture, commerce, and social ties across local government areas  . Historically, this route was traversable in a few hours; now it drags on for nearly a full day due to insecurity and dilapidated state.

Decades of neglect, despite the reconstruction of approximately 80 km by the Yobe State government, about 40 km remains in a terrible state—riddled with potholes, eroded sections, and collapsed bridges in places like Buni Gari, Kamuya, Buratai, and Miringa. Inhabitants report entire segments where motorists navigate craters and washedaway surfaces.

In 2022, floods destroyed a vital bridge near Katarko—just 22 km from Damaturu—completely cutting off the route. Locals were forced to detour hundreds of kilometers via Gombe State, costing significantly more time and cost.

Travelers and drivers along the DamaturuBiu road are routinely targeted by Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents. In February 2024, gunmen ambushed commuters around Mahdiya, killing at least one and abducting several passengers from six vehicles  .

In March 2025, Governor Babagana Zulum’s convoy engaged terrorists in a firefight along the same highway near Gujba. Local eyewitnesses recount how insurgents blocked roadways, forced passengers onto the ground, and commandeered vehicles before security forces’ intervention  . Residents say these attacks now occur in broad daylight on a nearly daily basis.

The sustained insecurity not only threatens lives but also raises transport fares drastically—what once cost ₦2,000–₦3,000 for a trip now costs upwards of ₦9,000 or more, forcing detours through Potiskum and Gombe that triple distance and fare  .

The road’s collapse has inflicted devastating human and socio-economic costs. Traffic crashes claim lives routinely due to treacherously eroded sections and unmarked hazards  . Communities feel abandoned. Local leaders question whether the federal government considers them part of Nigeria.

Agricultural markets suffer too. Southern Borno and adjacent Yobe LGAs are major grain producers—sorghum, millet, beans—but with roads cut off, transport costs skyrocket. Grain merchants report high prices due to long detours and insecurity, compounding hardship for both producers and consumers  .

Public pressure has mounted. In December 2024, the students’ union NANS issued a 14day ultimatum demanding the federal government resuscitate four federal roads in the northeast, including the BiuGarkida highway corridor facing decades of delay  .

Yobe community spokespersons have individually petitioned for federal intervention on abandoned roads—including the DamaturuBiu stretch—highlighting how reconstruction would unlock economic opportunities and improve security access  .

Meanwhile, Yobe Governor Mai Mala Buni has publicly described several federal roads within the state as death traps that must be prioritised to safeguard lives and property  .

This neglected corridor is more than a bumpy path — it is a symbol of isolation and a barrier to development. Healthcare access, commerce, and social cohesion suffer daily.

To restore connectivity, the federal government must

mobilise contractors immediately to repair the remaining 40 km of the road, restore critical bridges such as the Katarko crossing, provide sustained security along the corridor through military or police deployment and collaborate with state authorities to ensure proper maintenance post-reconstruction.

Without decisive action, the road linking Yobe and Borno through Biu will continue to exact heavy human, economic, and emotional costs.

Emmanuel Toma is a Mass Communication student, University of Maiduguri