Infrastructure: Kebbi lists gains of Sokoto-Badagry Highway, lauds Tinubu’s transformative leadership

*The Kebbi State Government of Nigeria outlines some social and economic gains of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for embarking on the project after 45 years the same project was first conceptualised by the administration of late President Shehu Shagari

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Kebbi State Government of Nigeria has listed the social and economic gains of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for embarking on the project after 45 years the same project was first conceptualised by the administration of late President Shehu Shagari.

Umar Abubakar Tafida, Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, stated this Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, while conducting the Presidential Media Team and the Renewed Hope Ambassadors round the infrastructure projects funded by the Federal and State governments in the North-West state in the country.

The Deputy Governor noted that the longest stretch of the highway, which is about 258 kilometres, is within Kebbi State/

He also noted that the legacy project would link the North-West to the Southwestern part of the country, and open up huge economic opportunities between the two regions of the country, most especially for farmers, traders and tourists.

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Tafida further said the project demonstrates Tinubu’s “nationalistic view” of development as it cuts across several states and links agricultural and commercial hubs.

Transport and development go hand–in–hand

Deputy Governor Tafida noted that agricultural products, such as rice, tomatoes and onions from the state will get to other markets outside the region faster on account of the project.

Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director (Information and Public Relations) in the State House, Abuja, FCT, Thursday, May 7, stated the Kebbi Deputy Governor said: “Transport and development go hand in hand.

“Farmers will now find it easier to move equipment and transport farm produce to markets quickly.

“Perishable goods like tomatoes can now reach markets in good time without losses associated with bad roads.”

He stated: “This plan has been there for a very long time, but President Tinubu came, reviewed the design and masterplan, made adjustments and awarded the contract. Today, it is almost becoming history because the work is progressing steadily.”

He equally lauded the Federal Government for the quality of work on the road, including the concrete pavement and solar-powered street lighting.

The Kebbi State Government, he noted, is collaborating closely with security agencies to ensure adequate protection for workers and host communities.

Speaking during the Presidential Communications Team tour of projects in the region, Chief Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, who led the team, said visible progress on the Sokoto-Badagry Highway had effectively answered critics who doubted President Tinubu’s commitment to delivering the ambitious legacy project.

The statement also noted that the delegation inspected sections of Kebbi State of the 1,068-kilometre corridor that will pass through seven states of the Federation.

According to Dare, the inspection by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and Presidential Media Team, aims at providing evidence of work done on the project and showcase the level of achievements of the Tinubu administration in the North-West across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Dare further said: “The very essence of our coming is to set the record straight and showcase the achievements of the administration of President Tinubu in this state and the Northwest as a region. Seeing is believing.

“We’ve come, we’ve seen it, and we’re standing on the roads he has done.”

He averred: “We’re standing on concrete roads. We’re seeing testimonials from people in these communities who say this project was abandoned for decades and has now been reactivated.

“There is clear evidence of work being done. We’re seeing progress, completion of roads, commissioning of roads and how they are impacting economic life.”

The Special Adviser said ongoing infrastructure drive under President Tinubu reflects a long-term national development vision designed to position Nigeria among modern 21st-Century economies.

According to him, projects including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Highway are central to the administration’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy through strategic infrastructure investments.

Dare also explained: “When you look at the requirements of the 21st century, it emphasises infrastructure, human capital development and futuristic planning.”

The Presidential aide as well described the Sokoto-Badagry corridor as one of the most ambitious road projects in Nigeria’s history.

The project, he restated, would open up previously inaccessible areas and stimulate economic activities across the Northern corridor.

Speaking during the tour also, Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Community Engagement (North-West), described the project as critical to food security and regional economic growth.

Yakasai said the highway corridor would include dams and other supporting infrastructure aimed at enabling year-round farming and easier movement of agricultural produce across the country.

Also speaking at the project site, the Federal Ministry of Works remarked that the work on the Kebbi section of the project was progressing according to schedule.

Engr. Malami Aliyu, Site Engineer, disclosed that the section covers Phases 2A and 2B of the project stretching from kilometre 120 to kilometre 385.

Aliyu said site clearance, filling works, stone base and sub-surface works were all progressing steadily while concrete pavement construction had covered 19 kilometres including street light installation.

The engineer also put the level of completion at 40 percent for Section 2A, and 16 percent for Section 2B of the project.

There are no major challenges affecting construction activities in Kebbi State, stated Engr. Aliyu.

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