National Media Tour: The Director of Information and Public Relations, Mal. Mohammed A. Ahmed (2nd right), SSA to the President on Community Engagement, North West Zone, Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai (3rd Right), Controller of Works Sokoto, Engr. Maigwandu Kasimu (2nd Left), S. A. (Projects) to the Hon. Minister, Bukola Odeyemi (1st Left) and the Project Manager of Hitech Construction Company Ltd., Sokoto Engr. Johan Foucie (1st Right) during inspection of on going construction of Sokoto – Badagry Super Highway.
By | Goodluck E.Adubazi |
Abuja
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to delivering a safe, durable and economically transformative road network with the ongoing construction of the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, a flagship infrastructure project aimed at boosting national integration, trade and security.
To enhance safety for road users and host communities, the highway is being equipped with modern security and safety features, including Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance systems and integrated street lighting.
Providing insight into the project on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the Federal Controller of Works in Sokoto State, Engr. Kasimu Maigwandu, explained that the superhighway begins at Illela in Sokoto State, along the Nigeria–Niger Republic border. It cuts across Kebbi State in the North-West, Niger and Kwara States in the North-Central, and terminates at Badagry in Lagos State, South-West Nigeria.
Engr. Maigwandu described the project as one of Nigeria’s most economically significant infrastructure investments, designed to ease the movement of people, goods and services within the country and across neighbouring nations such as Niger and the Benin Republic.
He noted that the highway will deliver safer, faster and more efficient transportation.
According to him, the road passes through major markets, cities, rural settlements and agricultural hubs, a development expected to boost farm productivity, stimulate commerce, create jobs and strengthen national security and cohesion.
He disclosed that construction is progressing steadily in several locations, including Katami, Silame, Gande, Bunkari, Gada, Madi and Illela. Modern construction methods such as Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) technology and solar-powered street lighting are being deployed to ensure durability and enhanced safety.
Confirming the pace of work, the Project Manager of Messrs Hitech Construction Company Limited, Mr. Joharn Fohan Foucice, said construction activities are progressing smoothly without major challenges. He assured Nigerians of the contractor’s commitment to quality workmanship and timely delivery.
During a media tour of the project sites, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North-West), Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, assured host communities of the Federal Government’s resolve to provide adequate security to guarantee uninterrupted and speedy completion of the project.
“There is a strong security presence around this project,” Yakasai said, adding that effective security support has been critical to the smooth execution of the works. He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for ensuring that construction has continued uninterrupted despite security challenges in the region.
Yakasai further noted that the concrete-paved Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway will strengthen unity and connectivity between the North-West and other regions of the country, accelerating socio-economic growth. He highlighted that dams along the corridor would support year-round farming, enhance agricultural activities and improve economic prosperity, particularly in the North-West with its vast arable land.
He also praised the President, the Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, and the Minister of State, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., for their leadership and commitment to road and bridge infrastructure, noting that construction is ongoing simultaneously at six locations along the alignment.
Also present during the inspection were the Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Sokoto Branch, Engr. Abubakar Yahaya, and a civil society representative, Dr. Abdul Umar. They commended the Ministry and the contractor for strict adherence to quality standards, noting that the 20-centimetre concrete pavement thickness conforms fully with specifications in the Bill of Quantities, ensuring durability and value for money.
In a related development, the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Sokoto State Council, Comrade Muhammed Nasir Bello, on behalf of the Chairman, commissioned emergency repair works on the Sokoto–Tambuwal–Jega Road (Route A1), as well as the reinstatement of washouts and failed sections at key points along the Sokoto–Jega–Kebbi State border road.
In a statement issued on January 22, 2026, by Mohammed A. Ahmed, Director of Press and Public Relations, the Federal Government urged communities along the Sokoto–Badagry corridor to continue cooperating with contractors to ensure the smooth execution and timely completion of the historic national project.
