The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has said Sokoto and Kebbi states axis of the superhighway project will cost N3 trillion.

Mr Umahi stated this on Friday when he inspected the 40 kilometres section 1A cleared on the ongoing superhighway project along Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

He dispelled rumours that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had neglected North-West in the execution of projects across the country.

Mr Umahi said, “The legacy highway projects are part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to improve road network and train service connectivity across the six geopolitical zones, to boost socio-economic development. The projects included the 750km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Corridor; 1,068km Sokoto-Badagry Road, Calabar-Abuja superhighway, 482km TransSaharan road, and 439km Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Road. The projects were designed as concrete road with lighting, instalment of CCTV cameras, health, tragic and security stations and other facilities, to enhance prompt response to emergencies.’’

He noted that the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway project starting from Illela in Sokoto to Badagry in Lagos was a testimony of Tinubu’s commitment to enhance people’s lives and rejuvenate socio economic activities in Nigeria.

The minister added that besides four legacy projects, the Tinubu administration had embarked on reconstruction of a concrete road from Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua-Zaria along the Kano-Abuja and Kano-Katsina Road projects among others.

He added, “All the projects are ongoing, and the President promised to complete all the projects within the stipulated periods. Before the end of 2026, the 120 kilometres of superhighway project from the Sokoto axis will be completed. North-West has the highest share when it comes to infrastructure provision by the present administration as Kebbi has about N2 trillion while Sokoto N1 trillion of this Sokoto-Badagry superhighway project. This is worthy of commendation and deserve more support to the president and his administration.’’

The minister explained that the project was a 48-year dream of the late President Shehu Shagari actualised by Mr Tinubu, stressing that in five years coming it would be completed and become a success.

He highlighted that the President mandated that none of the projects including Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited tax credit scheme should stop for the benefits of Nigerians.

Mr Umahi commended Hightech Construction Company Limited handling the project, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Inspector-General of Police, State Security Service and other security agencies for ensuring smooth conduct of the project.

He further commended the Sokoto State government for its commitment to the success of the Federal Government projects, urging community members to continue their support to project handlers.

In his remarks, Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, said that the North-West region had immensely benefited from Mr Tinubu’s initiatives and described Sokoto-Badagry superhighway as “game changer.”

Mr Goronyo said that the project was enough to attract votes for Mr Tinubu in 2027 as more projects were spread across various parts of the country including the North-West region.

The Director, Bridges and Design in the Federal Ministry of Works, Musa Sa’idu, said the projects were being executed in accordance with the specifications, noting that the alignments were considered based on the peculiarity conditions observed when the project started.

A representative of the contracting firm, Dany Abboud, said they were working on 10 kilometres on both section 1A and 1B simultaneously and had achieved 10 kilometres on both sides.

Mr Abboud said that the company was working in harmony with government officials and community members.

Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to President on Community Engagement, North-West, Abdullahi Tanko-Yakasai, expressed optimism that the project would attract more economic investments, facilitate growth and uplift social development in the region.

Mr Tanko-Yakasai said that Mr Tinubu had demonstrated that he was for the North-West in recognition of the infrastructural projects and other programmes sited in the region.

(NAN)