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The federal government has commenced the construction of over 2,000km Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
The Minister of Works, Engr. Nweze David Umahi, while performing the groundbreaking of the project on Thursday in Sokoto State, described the award of the contract as breaking a 48-year jinx.
A statement by the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Works, Mohammed Ahmed, said the flag-off ceremony for construction works on the Section I, Phase 1A of the project took place in Ilelah town of Sokoto State.
The Minister, in his remarks, said the idea of the project was first mooted during the first tenure of former President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic, but could not be started earlier than the present time.
He described the project as a payback to the people of Sokoto State for the massive support given to the Tinubu Presidency at the 2023 polls, and solicited for same and more during the next 2027 elections.
He further described the event as a manifestation of one of the Legacy Projects of President Bola Tinubu spanning over 2,000km with the North having 52 per cent and the South 48 per cent of the stretch of the highway.
The Minister explained that the choice of rigid pavement/concrete in its design and construction was informed by longevity, while that of the contractor, Messrs Hitech Construction (Nig.) Ltd, was premised on capacity to deliver according to specifications and on schedule due to availability of both brand new equipment and requisite manpower.
He said the contractor has done a similar pavement work on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos State and was doing same on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
The deputy governor of Sokoto State, who doubles as the State’s Commissioner of Works, Idris Mohammed Danchadi, described the project as “a dream come true” for the loyal people of the State.
The Director, Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. Bakare Umar and the representative of the Director, Highways, Bridges and Design, Engr. Musa Seidu, described the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway as a Trade, Transport and Security (TTS) Greenfield corridor traversing Sokoto State through Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun States and terminating in Lagos State.
They opined that the project seeks to reduce transportation costs, improve trade, connectivity, efficiency and economies of scale around the corridor and beyond.
“The 120-kilometre, 6-lane highway, 3 lanes on each side is to be separated with beautiful median landscaping, solar street lighting and modern digital signages,” he stated.
The statement added that the road will link various existing inter-border towns and routes, provide quick access, enhance border settlements for trade, security support and enablement.
The length of Section I, Phase 1A starts from Km. 0 + 000 (Ilelah, Sokoto State) and ends at Silame on the Sokoto/Kebbi State border.
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, said that the flag-off represented the vision of President Tinubu to transform Nigeria and a proof that building viable and lasting infrastructures is possible.
Also speaking at the event, a former Governor of Kebbi State and Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Adamu Aliero, stated that upon completion of the Superhighway, travel time between Sokoto to Lagos will be drastically reduced by 48 hours, adding that dams for irrigation and electricity generation and rail lines were amongst its integral parts.
On his part, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Sa’ad Abubakar III, promised to gather brothers and sisters in Sokoto and its environs to assist the Ministry in the delivery of the project, which is very dear to the people of Northern Nigeria.
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