Lagos–Sokoto Highway to Unlock Businesses in Six States — Umahi

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Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway will unlock vast economic opportunities and stimulate business activities across six states of the federation.

Umahi spoke on Monday in Lagos while inspecting Section Three of the superhighway, which he described as a strategic national corridor designed to enhance trade, transportation and economic integration between northern and southern Nigeria.

The minister listed the beneficiary states as Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo and Lagos, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to improving national connectivity.

“This highway will unlock economic opportunities and strengthen the movement of people and goods across states,” Umahi said.

He explained that Section Three of the project covers about 162.35 kilometres, starting from Agbara in Ogun State and terminating at the Ogun–Oyo boundary. According to him, the section is part of the larger Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway that links the six states.

“We are determined to deliver this project to world-class standards,” the minister assured, adding that the Federal Government would continue to support contractors to ensure timely and quality completion.

An engineer on the project, Mr. Aliu Oyewande, identified security challenges along greenfield alignments and compensation for affected communities as some of the key issues confronting the project. He said engagements with stakeholders and impacted persons were ongoing to resolve right-of-way and compensation matters.

Oyewande disclosed that the project has a 36-month completion timeline, with construction commencing in November 2025. He added that within two months, about 18 kilometres of earthworks and 47 kilometres of site clearance had already been achieved.

The Director of Highways, Mr. Musa Saidu, said the road is being constructed using rigid pavement technology similar to that adopted for the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway.

“The 200mm reinforced concrete pavement is designed to last up to 100 years,” Saidu said.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Hitech Construction Company, Mr. Danny Aboud, said the Section Three contract was awarded in November 2025 and construction began immediately.

“We are working across multiple sections nationwide and are committed to delivering this project ahead of schedule,” Aboud said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (Southwest), Mrs. Moremi Ojudu, emphasised that sustained community engagement was critical to the success and sustainability of major infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, Umahi said the 23-kilometre Phase One of the Lagos–Badagry Highway is about 95 per cent completed, with only about 300 metres left to be finished.

He noted that the highway consists of three lanes and two carriageways, with provision for a train track, and expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work by CGC Construction Company.

The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government is working on Section Two of the Lagos–Badagry project, which spans 22 kilometres up to the Seme Border, as part of the Lagos–Abidjan corridor.

On other infrastructure projects, Umahi revealed that the total rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos cost N43 billion, while the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Control Centre installed on the bridge cost about N2.5 billion.

He clarified that contrary to reports in some quarters, the CCTV centre did not cost N40 billion.

Umahi explained that the scope of work on the Third Mainland Bridge covered the rehabilitation of 14 kilometres of the bridge on two carriageways, replacement of expansion joints, repainting of concrete structures and installation of solar lighting.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr. Olufemi Dare, described the CCTV centre as the first of its kind in Nigeria, noting that it is equipped with surveillance boats, patrol vehicles, solar panels, inverters, monitoring screens, a transformer and a standby power generator.

Umahi stressed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to the development of infrastructure across all parts of the country, adding that the projects are critical to Nigeria’s long-term economic growth and national integration.