By || Goodluck E. Adubazi || Abuja
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transformative infrastructure development as construction advances on the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, a flagship project under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Superhighway, one of four Legacy Road Projects of the current administration, is designed to reshape national connectivity and unlock vast socio-economic opportunities across the country, particularly in Kebbi State and the wider North-West region.
Speaking during the National Media Tour and Commissioning of Emergency and Intervention Projects in Kebbi State on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Works, Malam Mohammed A. Ahmed, said the tour was organised to give stakeholders, journalists and the public firsthand insight into the scale, quality and progress of ongoing works.
According to him, the exercise also aims to gauge public perception of the Federal Government’s road infrastructure delivery, especially along sections of the superhighway with direct impact on Kebbi communities.
Providing an update on construction, the Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Ishaya Vandu, explained that the highway stretches from Ilelah in Sokoto State to Badagry in Lagos, passing through Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos States. He described the project as a catalyst for national integration and economic development.
Engr. Vandu recalled that the Sokoto–Badagry corridor was first conceived during the administration of the late President Shehu Shagari, describing its current execution as a “dream come true” after several decades. He disclosed that major milestones have already been achieved, including the commencement of Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) works between kilometres 170 and 177. The section features a full-width, three-lane dual carriageway with a central median spanning seven kilometres.
Earthworks, he added, have progressed up to kilometre 135, while site clearance continues on the remaining 17 kilometres between Kebbi and Sokoto States. Soil stabilisation using lateritic materials mixed with stone and cement has been completed over about 25 kilometres, with reinforcement works ongoing. Additional construction teams are also active from kilometre 348, where roughly 10 kilometres of site clearance have been completed. He expressed optimism that significant progress would be recorded before the second quarter of the year.
Reacting to the quality of work, the Immediate Past Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Kebbi Branch, Engr. Adamu Idris, described the project as exceptional, noting that in his many years of professional practice, he had not encountered a road project of such magnitude and quality.
Similarly, the current Chairman of the NSE, Kebbi Branch, Engr. Muhammed Nadeem Abdullahi, hailed the project as “truly a superhighway,” commending President Tinubu’s foresight and urging the contractor to maintain the current pace and standards.
Civil society groups also applauded the initiative. The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Kebbi State, led by Comrade Mansir Isah, said the project was already delivering tangible benefits, particularly through job creation for local residents.
In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North-West Zone), Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, dismissed social media claims suggesting that the project was non-existent. He stressed that visible progress on the ground clearly contradicts such narratives.
Hon. Yakasai praised President Tinubu for reviving a project conceived over four decades ago to connect Northern and Southern Nigeria, boost economic activities and strengthen national cohesion. He highlighted key features of the superhighway, including solar-powered street lighting for enhanced safety, as well as plans for dams and rail infrastructure along the corridor to support agriculture, power generation, commerce and trade.
He noted that the Kebbi axis, which spans more than 250 kilometres, is the longest section of the alignment and is already generating employment and economic opportunities for host communities.
During the tour, three Emergency and Special Intervention road projects were also commissioned. These included the repair of flooded washout embankments and desilting of blocked drains along the Jega–Koko–Yauri and Malando (Nigeria–Niger Republic Border, Route A1) corridors in Kebbi State. Also commissioned were intervention works addressing flood damage along the Birnin Kebbi–Argungu–Kaniyaka (Kebbi–Sokoto border) Road, as well as the rehabilitation of flood-affected sections of the Kalgo–Bunza–Kamba Road.
Reiterating its position, the Federal Ministry of Works said it remains steadfast in ensuring quality, durability and timely delivery of road infrastructure nationwide, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of using infrastructure and transportation as key drivers of economic growth.
National Media Tour: Ongoing Construction of Sokoto-Badagary Coastal Highway in Kebbi State.
