By Jabiru Hassan, Kano
In a continued push for infrastructural development, Minister of Works, Senator (Engr.) David Umahi has inaugurated Section II, Phase 2A of the ambitious 1,068-km Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway in Kebbi State. The ceremony was led by Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi, representing President Bola Tinubu, in Gulumbe town, Birnin Kebbi LGA on October 25, 2024.
Highlighting the project’s legacy, Engr. Umahi shared that this initiative, one of four major road projects under the “Renewed Hope Agenda,” aims to stimulate agriculture, trade, and security. “This project includes not just road infrastructure but also investments like 68 dams, solar street lights, and transport hubs, all aimed at spurring economic growth,” he explained.
Governor Idris expressed the region’s gratitude for President Tinubu’s commitment to completing this long-desired infrastructure. “This highway is a corridor linking the Northwest to the South, fulfilling a promise that previous governments had only envisioned,” he stated. The project is a “first-of-its-kind” for the region and marks a significant step in realizing Tinubu’s vision of national unity and development.
The ceremony included remarks from former state governor and current Senate Works Committee Vice-Chairman, Senator Adamu Aliero, who praised the federal government for prioritizing this project. Former Governor and Minister of Budget, Senator Atiku Bagudu, emphasized its significance for future generations, reinforcing Tinubu’s focus on lasting investments.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, described the project as a transformative step, while Emir Muhammadu Iliyasu-Bashar commended the government’s dedication to legacy projects.
Engr. Bakare Umar, Director of Highways, explained that this phase stretches from Km.120+000 to Km.378+000 at the Kebbi-Niger State boundary, and is designed to boost socioeconomic growth in Northern Nigeria. He added that the road will be a six-lane highway equipped with landscaping, modern signages, and advanced lighting, built by Hitech Construction, known for similar large-scale projects.
As a Trade, Transport, and Security corridor, the superhighway will connect states from Sokoto to Lagos, lowering transportation costs, facilitating trade, and enhancing connectivity across Nigeria.
