By Joy Onu
For years, residents of Cham, Numan, and Yola braved roads riddled with potholes and seasonal floods. Traders struggled to move goods, schoolchildren risked late arrivals, and ambulances often got stuck in mud. But change is now unmistakable, thanks to the Federal Ministry of Works, which, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is transforming neglected streets into vital lifelines. Mohammed A. Ahmed, Director, Information and Public Relations at the Ministry, confirmed that these interventions are part of a nationwide push to improve road infrastructure, community safety, and economic activity.
In Yola town, the recently rehabilitated Doctors’ Quarters Road is a vivid example of this transformation. Floodwaters that once trapped residents and blocked roads have been tamed. Shops and market stalls are welcoming more customers, property values are rising, and commuting has become faster and safer.
The project, executed by Clinton Enterprise Ltd, was formally commissioned by Comrade Ibrahim Kado, Chairman of the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, on behalf of Minister of Works David Umahi. “This road demonstrates the Ministry’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Kado said. “Movement is easier, flooding has been reduced, and the community is safer and more accessible.”
The community’s joy and relief were palpable. ‘Before, we dreaded the rainy season. Now, we can leave our homes without fear. These roads give us hope,’ said Malam Jubril Mohammed Iliasu.”
Just 
north of Yola, the Cham–Numan section of the Gombe–Yola Road—a crucial link connecting Adamawa to Gombe—is undergoing major reconstruction under the Federal Ministry of Works’ Renewed Hope Agenda. The corridor, long neglected, serves as a key economic artery for trade and daily travel. Federal Controller of Works in Adamawa, Engr. Dimas Tuwai, said, “Years of deferred maintenance and design challenges turned this road into a barrier for commerce and daily life. Rising costs and inflation presented hurdles, but progress has been steady.”
Originally awarded at ₦9 billion in 2017, the project’s cost has now reached ₦43 billion due to design adjustments and inflation. About 44 per cent of the road is complete, with 13 kilometres remaining. Contractor CGC (Nigeria) Limited has pledged full delivery by 2027, promising commuters a safer and smoother route.
Meanwhile, the Jabbi–Lamba Road, executed by M/S Decency Associates Ltd, has reached 40 per cent completion and is expected to open within three to four months. Like the other projects, it is part of the Ministry’s Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to improve connectivity, stimulate local commerce, and reduce flooding along key corridors.
The quality of the work has drawn praise from professional bodies. Prof. Engr. Bashiru Aliyu, Chairman of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Adamawa Branch, said, “The pace and standard of execution exceed community expectations. This is not just construction—it is life-changing infrastructure.” Engr. Wasinda Jonathan, Chairman of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria in Adamawa, added that the projects meet professional and regulatory standards.
From the rehabilitated streets of Yola to strategic corridors linking Adamawa to Gombe, the Federal Ministry of Works, through the Renewed Hope Agenda, is turning neglected roads into economic lifelines, safer communities, and symbols of hope.
