President Bola Tinubu has sanctioned the construction of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, a critical infrastructure project poised to connect Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states.
This announcement coincides with the immediate rollout of the National Construction and Household Support Programme, designed to encompass all geopolitical zones across Nigeria. The initiative aims to enhance agricultural productivity and stimulate the economy by creating opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, and construction, while also providing much-needed economic relief to Nigerians.
Addressing the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja, President Tinubu emphasized the necessity for state governors to collaborate in addressing citizens’ needs. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to offering the necessary support to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians.
Under this comprehensive programme, the Sokoto-Badagry Highway stands as a top priority. Additionally, other significant road projects, such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway—linking Enugu, Abakaliki, Ogoja, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Abuja—are also receiving focused attention.
Moreover, President Tinubu has greenlit full counterpart financing for the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway, which will span Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, and Borno. Similarly, the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway, traversing Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Niger, Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano, is set for development.
The prioritization of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway underscores its strategic significance, particularly given the agricultural importance of the regions it will traverse. The highway corridor includes 216 agricultural communities, 58 large and medium dams across six states, seven Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, 156 local government areas, 39 commercial cities and towns, and over a million hectares of arable land.
Highlighting the urgency of boosting food production, President Tinubu stated, “The Sokoto-Badagry Highway is pivotal, as the states within this corridor constitute the nation’s food belt, with Badagry serving as a crucial artery for food export.
“Our states must unite to implement the critical reforms necessary to meet the needs of our people. Time is humanity’s most valuable asset, and we must act swiftly. We stand ready to support you through the mechanization of agricultural processes and the provision of high-quality seedlings.”
