Sokoto, Nigeria: Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has announced that the Sokoto–Kebbi axis of the ambitious Sokoto–Badagry superhighway will require an estimated ₦3 trillion for completion.
Umahi disclosed this on Friday when he inspected the 40 kilometres section 1A cleared on the ongoing superhighway project along Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
He dispelled the rumours that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had neglected the Northwest in the execution of projects across the country.
” The legacy highway projects are part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to improve the road network and train service connectivity across the six geopolitical zones, to boost socio-economic development.
” The projects included the 750km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Corridor; 1,068km Sokoto-Badagry Road, Calabar-Abuja superhighway, 482km Trans-Saharan road, and 439km Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe road.
“The projects were designed as concrete roads with lighting, the installation of CCTV cameras, health, tragic, and security stations, and other facilities, to enhance prompt response to emergencies,” he said.
He explained that the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway project, starting from Illela in Sokoto to Badagry in Lagos, was a testimony of Tinubu’s commitment to enhancing people’s lives and rejuvenating socio-economic activities in the nation at large.
The minister added that, besides four legacy projects, Tinubu’s administration had embarked on the reconstruction of a concrete road from Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua-Zaria, along with other Kano-Abuja, Kano-Katsina road projects, among others.
” All the projects are ongoing, and the President promised to complete all the projects within the stipulated periods.
“Before the end of 2026, the 120 kilometres of the superhighway project from the Sokoto axis will be completed.
” Northwest has the highest share when it comes to infrastructure provision by the present administration, as Kebbi has about N2 trillion, while Sokoto has N1 trillion of this Sokoto-Badagry superhighway project.
” This is worthy of commendation and deserves more support for the President and his administration,” he said.
The minister explained that the project was a 48-year dream of late President Shehu Shagari, actualised by President Tinubu, stressing that in five years it would be completed and become a success.
He highlighted that the President had mandated that none of the projects, including the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) tax credit scheme, should stop for the benefit of Nigerians.
Umahi commended Hightech Construction Company Ltd., handling the project, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Inspector General of Police (I-GP), the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and other security agencies for ensuring the smooth conduct of the project.
He further commended the Sokoto state government for its commitment to the Federal Government projects’ successes and urged community members to continue their support to project handlers.
In his remarks, Minister of State for Works, Mr Bello Goronyo, said that the Northwest region had immensely benefited from President Tinubu’s initiatives and described the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway as a “game changer”.
Goronyo said the project was enough to attract more votes to Tinubu in 2027 as more projects were spread across various parts of the country, including the northwest region.
The Director of Bridges and Design in the Federal Ministry of Works, Mr Musa Sa’idu, stated that the projects were being executed according to the specifications, noting that the alignments were determined based on the peculiar conditions observed at the project’s inception.
A representative of the contracting firm, Mr Dany Abboud, stated that they are working on a 10-kilometre section on both sections 1A and 1B simultaneously, having achieved 10 kilometres on both sides.
Abboud said that the company was working in harmony with government officials and community members.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Northwest, Alhaji Abdullahi Tanko-Yakasai, expressed optimism that the project would attract more economic investments, facilitate growth and uplift social development in the region.
Tanko-Yakasai said the President had demonstrated that he was for the Northwest in recognition of the infrastructural projects and other programmes sited in the region.
