Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno on Wednesday reopened the 76-kilometre Bama-Banki road to restore business activities between Nigeria and the neighbouring countries of Cameroon and Chad.

The road had been shut since 2012, due to activities of the Boko Haram insurgents.

Zulum, alongside the Theatre Commander, ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, Maj.-Gen. Musa Christopher, travelled to the border town from Maiduguri.

Unveiling the road at Banki Junction on the outskirts of Bama town, Zulum appreciated the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian military for gains being steadily recorded in peace-building and stability of the North East region.

Zulum said that no meaningful development could be achieved in the recovered areas without restoration of business activities.

He lauded the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for its commitment to restoration of peace in Borno.

“I am very much impressed to witness the official reopening of this very important international road. This road has remained inaccessible to people since 2012 due to activities of Boko Haram, but with the coming of President Buhari, our gallant security agencies have worked towards today’s reopening of this road,” Zulum said.

The governor noted that the efforts put up by the military in the state had led to the expansion of farming activities this year in the hitherto no-go areas.

“This year, areas under cultivation in Borno have increased by 600 per cent. By next year, we will go beyond what we achieved this year,” Zulum said.

The governor released 10 surveillance vehicles to the Nigerian Army to enhance their security operations along the reopened road.

The vehicles were received by the Theatre Commander, ‘Operation Hadin Kai”.

Zulum also warned security officials to desist from extorting motorists and passengers while plying the road.

“As we were coming here today, I sighted some immigration personnel busy extorting our motorists along the Maiduguri-Bama-Banki junction which is unacceptable.

“I want to strongly sound a warning, especially to Immigration personnel and other sister agencies to desist from extorting motorists and passengers,” the governor said.

Zulum gave a matching order for the arrest of anyone engaged in smuggling of goods across the road, especially those who may want to smuggle food items through the bush to convey to criminals.

“I have given a matching order to the military to arrest anybody engaged in smuggling of goods, especially diverting the main road to the bush with food items,” Zulum stated.

He also pledged his total support to the Theatre Commander of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, troops of 151 and 152 Battalion on provision of security to the road.

Earlier, the Theatre Commander, Maj.-Gen. Christopher, thanked Governor Zulum for supporting the army in the fight against insurgents and promised to do their best to end terrorism in the region.

General Christopher said reopening of roads and resettlement of IDPs by the present administration signifies the end of Boko Haram which would be some of the achievements to be measured during his stay in the theatre.

In his address of welcome, Chairman of Bama Local Government Council, Alhaji Aji-Kolo Kachalla, lauded the development, describing it as a big relief to the people of the area known for business activities.

After reopening the road, Zulum paid an unscheduled visit to Umar Ibn Ibrahim College of Education (UICEST) Bama, where he directed the state’s Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), Engr. Mustapha Gubio, to immediately provide buses for students and ceiling fans to all classrooms/lecture theatres.