1,068km Sokoto–Badagry superhighway advances as jobs flow to communities
Federal Government has confirmed that the construction of the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway is advancing steadily, bringing jobs and economic opportunities to local communities along the corridor.
The highway, a flagship project under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is one of four legacy road projects aimed at transforming national infrastructure and boosting socio-economic development.
This was made known during a Media Tour and commissioning of emergency road projects in Kebbi State, allowed stakeholders, journalists, and the public to assess firsthand the scale and quality of the ongoing works.
The Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, said the tour also aimed to gauge public perception of federal road initiatives in the region.
Also speaking, the Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Ishaya Vandu, explained that the superhighway stretches from Ilelah in Sokoto State to Badagry in Lagos State, crossing Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos States.
He said that the project is designed to improve national integration, enhance trade, and stimulate economic growth across multiple regions.
Describing the highway as a “dream realised,” Engr. Vandu recalled that the project was first conceived during the administration of the late President Shehu Shagari.
Vandu said significant milestones have been achieved, including the start of Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement works between Kilometres 177 and 170, a seven-kilometre stretch featuring a three-lane dual carriageway with a central median.
“Earthworks have progressed up to Kilometre 135, while site clearance is ongoing on the remaining 17 kilometres between Kebbi and Sokoto States. Soil stabilisation, using a mixture of laterite, stone, and cement, has been completed over 25 kilometres, and reinforcement works are ongoing. Construction teams are also active from Kilometre 348, where 10 kilometres of site clearance has been accomplished.” He said
Reacting to the quality of the works, Engr. Adamu Idris, Immediate Past Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Kebbi Branch, described the project as exceptional, adding that he had not seen a road project of such magnitude in his professional career.
Similarly, the current NSE Kebbi Branch Chairman, Engr. Muhammed Abdullahi, praised the superhighway as “truly a superhighway,” commending President Tinubu’s vision and urging contractors to maintain the pace and standard of construction.
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Kebbi State, led by Comrade Mansir Isah, welcomed the project, noting that it is creating employment and improving livelihoods for residents along the route. The initiative, they said, is having immediate socio-economic impact in host communities.
Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North-West Zone), dismissed claims on social media questioning the project’s existence.
He stressed that the visible progress on the ground proves the government’s commitment to reviving a decades-old project that connects Northern and Southern Nigeria while promoting economic activity.
He highlighted additional features of the highway, including solar-powered street lighting for safety, the construction of dams and rail infrastructure to support agriculture, electricity generation, commerce, and efficient movement of people and goods. He said the Kebbi axis, covering over 250 kilometres, is already generating jobs and stimulating local economies.
During the tour, three emergency road projects were commissioned, including the repair of flood-damaged embankments and desilting of blocked drains along the Jega–Koko–Yauri and Malando routes.
Additional works addressed flood damage along the Birnin Kebbi–Argungu–Kaniyaka Road and rehabilitation of affected sections of the Kalgo–Bunza–Kamba Road.
