Aug 17, 2026

Budget Minister Bagudu Inspects Kebbi Stretch of Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in news

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Birnin Kebbi / Kebbi State – August 17, 2026 — Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, on Monday inspected ongoing construction works on the Kebbi section of the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, one of the Federal Government’s most ambitious infrastructure projects under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Photographs from the site show heavy equipment in full operation: continuous reinforced concrete pavement being laid under clear skies, rows of yellow tipper trucks lined up along the alignment, and workers overseeing the pour of durable concrete slabs across the open savannah landscape.

A Corridor Linking North and South

The Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway stretches approximately 1,068 kilometres from Illela in Sokoto State, near the Niger Republic border, through Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo and Ogun states, terminating in Badagry, Lagos.

Kebbi hosts the longest single stretch of the corridor—roughly 250 to 258 kilometers—making the state’s section critical to the overall delivery of the project.

Conceived decades ago during the Shehu Shagari administration but left largely unrealized, the dual-carriageway (six-lane in key sections) is being built with continuous reinforced concrete pavement technology intended for a long service life.

Supporting features include solar-powered street lighting, CCTV surveillance, and plans for dams along the route to support year-round agriculture and potential power generation.

Progress on the Ground

Earlier updates from Federal Ministry of Works officials indicated steady advancement in the Kebbi axis, including site clearance, earthworks, soil stabilization, and the progressive laying of concrete pavement.

Contractors have been working simultaneously from multiple fronts to accelerate delivery. Officials have previously reported completion levels in the range of 16 to 40 percent on different phases of the Kebbi sections, with visible concrete works and supporting infrastructure already in place.

Minister Bagudu’s inspection comes amid continued government emphasis that the project, together with the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, forms a pair of landmark corridors aimed at reducing travel time, lowering logistics costs, opening agricultural produce markets, and strengthening economic ties between the North-West and the South-West.

Economic and Political Context

Supporters describe the Superhighway as a transformative “opportunity corridor” that will create jobs in host communities, improve security of movement, and stimulate trade and farming along its path.

Information Minister Mohammed Idris recently highlighted the agricultural potential for Kebbi, noting that about 250 kilometres of the highway pass through the state.

The project has drawn less public controversy than the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, a point noted by observers on social media following Bagudu’s visit.

Government officials maintain both projects demonstrate balanced national infrastructure investment, with significant portions of the Sokoto–Badagry alignment located in the North.

As construction continues across multiple states, the Federal Government has set ambitious targets for phased completion, with the first major sections expected in the coming years.

For communities along the Kebbi stretch, the visible movement of machines and the expanding ribbon of concrete represent tangible progress on a long-promised national artery.

The full realization of the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway will ultimately be measured by whether it delivers faster connectivity, safer travel, and stronger economic opportunities for the millions of Nigerians living along its path.