Kebbi celebrates launch of Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway project

Construction has begun on Section II, Phase 2A of the 1,068-kilometer Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, inaugurated by Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The project, launched by Minister of Works, Senator Nweze David Umahi, aims to catalyze economic growth across Nigeria’s North-West and beyond.

Minister Umahi praised the administration’s commitment to the ambitious project, describing it as a renewed vision to connect the North-West with southern trade routes, noting that the current administration redirected the project to begin from Sokoto instead of Lagos.

“This initiative reflects Mr. President’s genuine care for the people of the North,” Umahi remarked, highlighting that the highway falls under the administration’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’—one of four pivotal infrastructure projects intended to spur socio-economic transformation.

Designed to include not just a multi-lane roadway but also dams, solar street lighting, parking arcades, and a railway, the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway is envisioned as a key infrastructure investment with high return potential.

Umahi emphasized the inclusion of 68 dams along the highway, which he anticipates will drive a major agricultural revolution in the region. He also urged the people of Kebbi State to rally their support in the 2027 presidential election to ensure the project’s full completion.

Governor Nasir Idris expressed the North-West region’s excitement and gratitude for President Tinubu’s decision to prioritize the long-awaited project. “This highway links the North-West with the South-West and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, providing unprecedented connectivity for trade and movement,” Idris stated, adding that the project represents a historic achievement for Nigeria.

Senator Adamu Aliero, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, also celebrated the project, crediting Tinubu for delivering on a promise that past administrations failed to fulfill. Former Governor and current Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, reiterated that Tinubu’s commitment to infrastructure was a pledge to future generations, calling it a transformative investment.

Federal Ministry of Works Permanent Secretary Yakubu Adam Kofarmata emphasized the project as a cornerstone of President Tinubu’s infrastructure agenda, acknowledging the pivotal role played by Kebbi’s own Atiku Bagudu in advancing the initiative.

Meanwhile, the Emir of Gwandu, represented by the Emir of Argungu, expressed gratitude on behalf of the state’s traditional leaders, commending Tinubu for reviving the long-dormant project.

Highlighting the project’s scope, Federal Director of Highways, Construction, and Rehabilitation, Engr. Bakare Umar, stated that the second section spans from kilometer 120 to kilometer 378, reaching the Kebbi-Niger State boundary. The contract is being executed by Hitech Construction Nigeria Ltd., the same firm handling the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, using advanced concrete technology for durability.

The Superhighway, designed as a six-lane, multi-functional Trade, Transport, and Security (TTS) corridor, will connect key trade hubs across Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states.

Umar stressed the route’s potential to reduce transportation costs, stimulate border trade, and support national security efforts. With features like median landscaping, modern signage, and lighting, the project promises a significant transformation for Nigeria’s inter-state connectivity and regional development.