Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
Minister of Works, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for actualising a decades-old vision first conceived by Nigeria’s first democratically elected president, late Alhaji Shehu Shagari, through the ongoing construction of the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway.
Truth Live News gathered that while speaking at the eighth edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing Session at the National Press Centre, Abuja, Umahi described the highway as a historic feat that reinforces Tinubu’s bold infrastructure agenda. He revealed that Section One of the dual carriageway has now been awarded, with construction already underway.
“The Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway was a dream of the Shagari administration 47 years ago. It was originally Badagry–Sokoto, but President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his detribalised approach, directed it to be renamed Sokoto–Badagry. The terrain covers 1,068 kilometres by two, and only a visionary leader could undertake such a monumental project,” Umahi said.
The six-lane dual carriageway, awarded to Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Limited, stretches from Illela in Sokoto State to Badagry in Lagos, traversing seven states: Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos.
The highway revives the historic African trade route and is expected to open up massive economic opportunities across the northern and southern corridors. In total, 52% of the route will lie in the northern region, while 48% spans the south, promoting national integration and trade harmony.
“We are not just building roads; we are reconnecting regions, reviving trade, and building the backbone for economic transformation,” Umahi stated.
More than a transport artery, the Sokoto–Badagry highway is a critical tool for economic development. Key highlights include:
Boosting Trade: By facilitating the seamless flow of goods and services, the highway will deepen inter-regional commerce and connect agricultural zones with export markets.
Agricultural Irrigation: As part of the plan, 68 dams will be constructed along the corridor to support irrigation and food production.
Employment: Thousands of direct and indirect jobs are expected to be created, alongside training programs for engineers under the ‘New Tool’ programme, which deploys five unemployed civil engineers from each state to legacy infrastructure projects.
Security: Improved road infrastructure enhances mobility and the ability to respond swiftly to security threats along the corridor.
Umahi also emphasized the Federal Government’s shift from asphalt to concrete pavement, stating that concrete roads are more durable and transparent in quality control.
“Roads built with asphalt last just one year. With concrete, poor quality is immediately visible. That’s why some are fighting me,” Umahi asserted.
Highlighting key administrative changes, the minister announced that all contractors must now mobilise to site within 30 days of contract signing or risk automatic termination, in line with the Procurement Act. He also noted that the ministry is classifying contractors by capacity and empowering local firms, reducing reliance on foreign contractors.
Earlier at the session, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, linked the infrastructure strides to broader economic gains under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He cited data from the National Bureau of Statistics showing a drop in headline inflation to 23.71% in April 2025, down from 24.23% in March. Month-on-month inflation also fell significantly, from 3.90% to 1.86%.
“This improvement didn’t happen by chance. The President’s focused interventions are paying off. Food inflation has slowed due to strategic interventions, easing pressures on staple goods like maize, rice, yam flour, and beans,” Idris noted.
With an estimated cost of over ₦13 trillion and a phased delivery approach, the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway stands as one of Nigeria’s most ambitious infrastructure projects. It embodies the fulfilment of Shagari’s long-held dream, now being realised under Tinubu’s administration, marking a defining moment in Nigeria’s quest for connectivity, national unity, and sustainable economic growth.
“Let’s appreciate Mr President, the roadmaster and a man of uncommon courage,” Umahi concluded.