Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway Revived After Four Decades.
In a historic move, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given the green light to revive the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, a long-abandoned infrastructure project originally conceived in the early 1980s. The project aims to significantly enhance transportation and connectivity between Nigeria’s Northwest and Southwest regions, easing the logistical challenges faced by residents and businesses across these areas.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the ambitious 1,068-kilometre highway took place in Gulumbe town, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area, Kebbi State. Governor Nasir Idris, representing President Tinubu, expressed the gratitude of the Northwest region, stating that the entire nation stands to benefit from this development. “This is a Northwest corridor to Lagos, Calabar Coastal Highway. You have promised to be president for all; we are grateful that you keep to your words,” said Governor Idris.
The Sokoto-Badagry highway project was originally launched under President Shehu Shagari’s administration but had been stalled for over 40 years. Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, praised President Tinubu’s decision to start the project from Sokoto, noting that this change would benefit the northern region greatly. Umahi outlined plans for the project’s first phase, which includes the construction of 68 dams to support irrigation, triggering an agricultural revolution in the region. “These dams are for irrigation; we are going to have a lot of wind energy; we are also going to improve agriculture in this corridor,” he added.
Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, highlighted that the highway represents an investment not only for the present generation but for future ones as well. Senator Adamu Aliero, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, commended Tinubu’s leadership, noting that several administrations had promised to deliver this project without success.
The Emir of Gwandu, Maj Gen Muhammadu Iliyasu-Bashar (retd), echoed these sentiments, expressing the traditional council’s appreciation to the federal government for reviving the project. He emphasised that this initiative would stand as a lasting legacy of Tinubu’s administration.
As construction begins, there is renewed hope that this long-overdue project will bring transformative benefits to Nigeria’s infrastructure, economy, and agricultural capacity, creating a vital link that fosters unity and development across regions.
