The Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, has reassured Nigerians of the timely completion of the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway project started by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to fast-track socio-economic activities across the country.
Bello Goronyo gave the assurance when he inspected different parts of the ongoing project sites at different communities across the Binji and Silame local government areas of Sokoto State.
He appreciated the contractors’ project delivery, the team of security personnel guarding the sites and the community’s support that ensures seamless execution of the project.
According to him, the project was designed to be executed in batches and different phases were outlined in sections for execution based on stages, stressing that the federal government would be commissioning the projects in phases when completed.
He added that the initiative was to showcase to Nigerians the commitment to project execution and the determination of President Tinubu’s government to complete the projects in four years.
He said the Superhighway, when completed, will catalyse regional integration, linking Sokoto to Lagos through various states and further connecting to other major federal road networks.
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The Minister described the project as distinct and a demonstration of President Tinubu’s commitment to uplift citizens, noting that the road project was initially conceived during late President Shehu Shagari’s administration in the 1980s.
All the subsequent regimes could not go on with the project, but President Tinubu embarked on the bold step to harness the human and environmental potentialities in the nation.
” It is misleading of the public to say the project was stopped; it is completely false. Work is going on as designed; sections were demarcated from 1,2,3 to others, as it covered different states.
”As work is going on here in Sokoto parts of the state, another work on a different section is going on in Kebbi state and others,” Goronyo said.
He emphasised that there was no damage, security threat, or communal disagreement reported so far.
The four legacy highway projects are part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to improve the road network and train service connectivity across the six geopolitical zones to boost socio-economic development.
”Projects included the 750 km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Corridor; 1,068 km Sokoto-Badagry road, Calabar-Abuja superhighway, 482 km Trans-Saharan road, and 439 km Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe road.
”The projects were designed as a concrete road with lighting, installation of CCTV cameras, health, tragic and security stations and other facilities to enhance prompt response to emergencies,” the minister said.
The minister added that the government has adopted standard procurement modalities and engaged specialised contractors with global experience.
He also commended the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, for his support.
The minister urged the people to support the federal government’s programmes and charged them to take ownership of the road, adding that “it is for your own good”.
Recall that the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry road was inaugurated on October 24, 2024, in Illela local government area, as part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at encouraging infrastructure development and uplifting socio-economic activities in the country.