Silame, Sokoto — Nigeria’s Works Minister Sen. David Umahi says the Sokoto–Kebbi axis of the Sokoto–Badagry superhighway will gulp about ₦3 trillion, with 120km from the Sokoto side targeted before end-2026. He positions the build as part of a national grid of concrete legacy highways under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Inspecting Section 1A (40km cleared) near Silame LGA, Umahi framed the corridor as a north–south trade spine beginning at Illela (Sokoto) and running to Badagry (Lagos). He dismissed claims that the North-West is being short-changed, noting ministerial estimates that the Sokoto–Kebbi share alone is ~₦3trn (with ~₦2trn attributed to Kebbi and ~₦1trn to Sokoto within the broader project envelope).
The build spec
The superhighway is designed as rigid (concrete) pavement with lighting, CCTV, and health/traffic/security stations to speed incident response. The Ministry says similar “legacy” corridors include:
- 750km Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road
- 1,068km Sokoto–Badagry Road (this project)
- Calabar–Abuja superhighway
- 482km Trans-Saharan segment
- 439km Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe road
Beyond the four flagship corridors, ongoing reconstructions include Sokoto–Gusau–Funtua–Zaria, Kano–Abuja, and Kano–Katsina—many on concrete to cut lifecycle costs.
Delivery cadence & financing signals
Umahi says 120km on the Sokoto axis will be motorable by end-2026. He added that the President has directed that no strategic work stops, including sites funded via the NNPCL tax-credit scheme. On site, the contractor reported dual work fronts on Sections 1A and 1B, with 10km achieved across both sides and simultaneous 10km work packs underway.
Why It Matters (Trade, Security, Cost of Ownership)
- Freight economics: A controlled, concrete corridor reduces axle-load damage, travel time, and vehicle OPEX, lowering delivered costs for agri, solid minerals, and cross-border trade in the North-West.
- Resilience & safety: Lighting, CCTV and service stations improve night operations and incident clearance, a persistent pain point on legacy highways.
- Lifecycle value: Rigid pavement typically costs more upfront but lasts longer with fewer deep overhauls when axle-load control is enforced.
By the Numbers (Ministerial Brief)
- ~₦3trn: Estimated cost for Sokoto–Kebbi axis of the superhighway
- 1,068km: Planned Sokoto–Badagry corridor length
- 40km: Section 1A cleared near Silame
- 120km: Sokoto-side milestone targeted by end-2026
- Spec: Concrete pavement, lighting, CCTV, emergency/traffic/security stations
Execution Risks (and Mitigations to Watch)
- Right-of-Way & Resettlement: Timely compensation and community engagement keep work fronts open; track grievance-redress logs.
- Materials & Logistics: Concrete needs steady cement/aggregate supply and batch-plant uptime; watch haul distances and fuel price exposure.
- Axle-Load Enforcement: Protects pavement life; requires weigh-in-motion and active policing.
- Funding Flow: Large, multi-year CAPEX depends on predictable disbursements (incl. tax credit windows) to avoid start-stop cycles.
- Security Coordination: Continued joint operations with CDS, Police, DSS to secure crews, equipment and materials.
What to Watch (Next 12–24 Months)
- Quarterly progress maps for Sections 1A/1B (clearing, earthworks, sub-base, slabs, lighting).
- Milestone verification of the 120km 2026 target.
- Axle-load control plan (weigh stations, enforcement regime).
- Service-station PPPs for fuel, clinics, towing, and patrols—key to the promised “quick-response” network.
- Transparent cost tracking as concrete prices, diesel, and FX move.
BRANDECONOMY Take
If delivery stays phased, funded, and policed, the Sokoto–Kebbi stretch can become the proof-point for Nigeria’s concrete superhighway strategy—lowering whole-life costs and restoring reliability to a critical trade axis. The 120km by 2026 is the credibility test; hit it with lighting, CCTV and functioning service points, and investor confidence in the wider Sokoto–Badagry corridor will firm up.
Concrete buys durability; governance buys longevity. Ring-fence funding, enforce axle loads, and publish progress—then the ₦3trn won’t just be spent; it will compound into safer logistics, lower freight costs, and real regional growth.
