Former President Goodluck Jonathan has praised Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, for what he described as tangible achievements in infrastructure development, particularly the Governor’s urban renewal programme and expansion of road networks across the State.
Jonathan made the remarks on Monday, August 10, 2026, while commissioning 18 township road projects completed by the Bauchi State Government in the Bauchi metropolis.
The former President said the scale of the projects demonstrated the importance of leadership that translates Government policies and plans into visible improvements in the lives of citizens.
According to Jonathan, Governor Mohammed had shown consistency in pursuing development through what he described as clear vision, purposeful governance and a commitment to improving the living conditions of residents.
He said he was not surprised by the Governor’s performance, noting that he had known Mohammed for several years and was familiar with his commitment to public service.
Jonathan also recalled Mohammed’s passion for delivering what he described as the dividends of democracy, saying the projects commissioned in Bauchi provided practical evidence of that commitment.
The former President said the road infrastructure would have a direct impact on the movement of people and goods within the State capital, while also creating an environment capable of supporting increased commercial activity.
The 18 road projects commissioned during the event cover approximately 49.7 kilometres and have a combined value of about ₦58 billion.
The projects form part of the State Government’s broader urban renewal and infrastructure development programme aimed at improving transportation and connectivity within Bauchi metropolis.
Beyond easing movement for residents, the upgraded road network is expected to improve access to markets, businesses, schools, health facilities and other essential services across different parts of the State capital.
The investment also reflects the administration’s emphasis on using road infrastructure as a tool for economic activity and urban development.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Governor Bala Mohammed said his administration’s development plans were not restricted to Bauchi metropolis.
He explained that while the newly commissioned projects represented a major component of the Government’s urban renewal efforts, similar attention was being given to roads in rural and semi-urban communities.
Mohammed said the Government was particularly interested in improving rural connectivity because of the importance of agriculture to Bauchi State’s economy.
According to the Governor, better rural roads would help farmers move agricultural produce from communities to markets and improve connections between rural settlements and urban centres.
He therefore stressed that the State’s infrastructure programme was designed to cover different categories of communities rather than concentrate development exclusively in the State capital.
The Governor’s position places the 18 commissioned roads within a wider infrastructure strategy involving both urban renewal and rural connectivity.
The Bauchi Government has increasingly presented road construction and rehabilitation as central to its efforts to improve transportation, stimulate economic activity and support development across the State.
The commissioning ceremony was followed by another major event focused on recreation and urban beautification.
Jonathan also laid the foundation for the construction of four recreational parks in different parts of Bauchi metropolis.
The four parks are expected to cost more than ₦4 billion and are projected to be completed within 12 months.
The projects include the Golden Jubilee Park, which is being developed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bauchi State.
Other locations listed for the recreational projects are the General Hassan Usman Katsina Park in Yelwa, Suleiman Adamu Park in New G.R.A. and Shehu Azare Park in Old G.R.A.
The parks are expected to add recreational spaces to the State capital while complementing the Government’s ongoing urban renewal efforts.
Their development is also intended to provide residents with additional public spaces for relaxation and recreation as Bauchi metropolis continues to expand.
The combination of road construction and recreational infrastructure highlights the broader scope of the State Government’s urban development programme.
While the 18 roads are primarily targeted at transportation and connectivity, the proposed parks are designed to contribute to the quality and functionality of the urban environment.
Jonathan’s presence at both events also underlined the relationship between the former President and Governor Mohammed.
Mohammed served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory during Jonathan’s administration, before later becoming Governor of Bauchi State.
Jonathan’s remarks therefore carried particular significance as he publicly assessed the performance of a former member of his administration.
By describing the projects as a practical demonstration of Mohammed’s commitment to development, the former President offered strong backing for the Governor’s infrastructure agenda.
The ₦58 billion road investment is one of the major highlights of the State Government’s current development programme, with nearly 50 kilometres of roads covered by the 18 projects.
For residents and businesses in Bauchi metropolis, improved roads could reduce travel difficulties, strengthen connections between different parts of the city and support the movement of commercial goods.
The Governor, however, has indicated that the administration intends to extend similar infrastructure attention beyond the urban centre.
His emphasis on rural and semi-urban roads reflects the importance of transportation infrastructure to agriculture, which remains a major component of economic activity in Bauchi State.
With the foundation laid for four recreational parks and the commissioning of the 18 road projects, the State Government is combining transportation infrastructure with urban renewal and public-space development.
The latest projects therefore represent more than individual construction works, as the administration seeks to reshape the physical landscape of Bauchi metropolis while extending infrastructure to communities outside the State capital.
Jonathan’s commendation adds political and public recognition to the projects, as the former President urged attention to tangible outcomes that directly affect citizens.
The former President maintained that effective leadership should ultimately be judged by its impact on the people, a standard he said Governor Mohammed had demonstrated through the projects commissioned in Bauchi.
The 18 roads and four proposed recreational parks are now expected to become important components of Bauchi’s continuing urban transformation, with the parks scheduled for completion within a year and the road projects already commissioned for public use.