Recently, the Presidential Media Team and the Renewed Hope Ambassadors led some journalists to inspect the ongoing Sokoto – Badagry Superhighway.
The team expressed satisfaction with the level and quality of work done so far on the 1,068km road which connects several towns and communities in the north and south of the country. It will open up huge economic opportunities between the two regions, especially for farmers, traders and tourists.
The Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Umar Rafida who conducted the media team round the project commended President Bola Tinubu for embarking on it more than 45 years after the road was first conceptualised by the administration of late President Shehu Shagari.
Work on the Kebbi and Sokoto sections of the project is progressing according to schedule.
The Site Engineer, Malami Aliyu, said the Kebbi section covers Phases 2A and 2B of the project stretching from kilometre 120 to kilometre 385 Site clearance, filling works, stone base, and sub-surface works were all progressing steadily, while concrete pavement construction had covered 19km, including street light installation. The engineer put the level of completion at 40 percent for Section 2A and 16 percent for Section 2B.
One of the major campaign promises of President Bola Tinubu was to open Nigeria for the much needed economic and social development. One of the ways of fulfilling this promise is his concept of legacy projects, especially in the transportation sector.
The Sokoto- Badagry Superhighway, the over 700 km Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway, the 439 km Akwanga – Jos- Bauchi – Gombe Road and the 482 km Calabar – Abuja superhighway are some of the ambitious road projects the President has embarked upon to fulfill this promise.
These projects are central to the administration’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy through strategic infrastructure investments.
Two hundred and fifty eight kilometers of the Sokoto- Badagry Superhighway will pass through Kebbi state with one hundred and twenty kilometers going through Sokoto State.
A reputable and quality- delivering international firm, Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Limited, is the contractor is handling the project, and it is delivering speed and quality
This highway will connect several states in Nigeria, including Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states.
It might interest you to know that 52% of the superhighway passes through the northern region with 48% passing through the southern states. It will connect the two regions by concrete road and rail.
This legacy project has abundant economic and social benefits for Nigeria when completed.
The superhighway will link Sokoto State in the northwest to Badagry in the southwest, bridging remote communities and offering better access to markets across the country.
The new road would positively impact the economy of the northern region, facilitate the movement of goods and services as well as promote social and economic development.
It will make agricultural products such as rice, tomatoes, and onions from the northern states to other markets outside the region faster.The project is also critical to food security and regional economic growth
It has the potential to promote trade, commerce, employment, social interrelationships, and linkages to connect markets with production centres in the south.
President Bola Tinubu deserves commendation for executing this gigantic project linking the North West North Central and South West for potential landmark economic development.
Mustapha Isah is a former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
