The Federal Government is targeting November 2026 for the completion of the remaining 164-kilometre stretch of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway, Works Minister Dave Umahi has said.
Umahi disclosed this on Monday in Abuja when the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by its President, Babatunde Akinteye, paid him a courtesy visit, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The minister said the Federal Government had spent more than N200 billion on the wider highway project, while over 80 per cent of payments for the current phase and other components had been made.
He said the government was confident that the entire outstanding stretch would be completed by November.
Umahi described the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano corridor as one of the major legacy road projects of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to him, the full corridor covers 375 kilometres in each direction, amounting to 750 kilometres of carriageway, while the section currently being executed covers 164 kilometres, or 82 kilometres in each direction.
“The Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road is 375 kilometres by two, 750 kilometres. The President funded part of this project. We have spent over N200 billion on that project,” Umahi said.
He added: “We are back here with the remaining 164 kilometres, 82 kilometres by two. Both of these projects are costing us N752 billion under the President. Over 80 per cent has been paid. We believe that by November, the entire stretch will have been completed.”
The minister also raised concerns over the vandalism of federal highways, particularly the removal of reinforcement rods from concrete sections of roads under construction.
He said the government would establish a highway guard along the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano corridor to protect the infrastructure from vandalism.
Umahi also announced plans to install solar streetlights at intervals along the highway to improve visibility and enhance safety for motorists.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government is targeting February 2028 for the completion of the ongoing dualisation of the 250-kilometre Makurdi–9th Mile–Enugu Highway.
The timeline was disclosed by the Federal Controller of Works in Benue, Mukaila Danladi, in an update shared by the Presidency via its official WhatsApp Channel.
The strategic highway is being executed in five sections, with Sections 1 to 3 traversing Benue State and Sections 4 and 5 located in Enugu State.
The 250-kilometre corridor links Makurdi in Benue State with 9th Mile and Enugu in Enugu State and is expected to improve connectivity between Nigeria’s North-Central and South-East regions.
Upon completion, the dual carriageway is expected to facilitate the movement of passengers and cargo while strengthening economic links between the two regions by improving access to markets and neighbouring states, including Kogi.
The Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway is a major transport corridor linking the Federal Capital Territory with Kaduna and Kano states.
The remaining 164-kilometre stretch forms part of the broader road project initially awarded to Julius Berger in 2017 but later stalled before the Federal Government renewed efforts to revive construction under the Tinubu administration.
In January 2024, Umahi announced renewed efforts to complete the project, including a N20 billion monthly funding commitment.
By March 2025, N17 billion had been released, while an additional N33 billion was allocated to the project.
The Federal Executive Council revised the project’s cost to N740.79 billion in September 2024 and subsequently approved N507 billion for the second section in March 2025.
The government is also introducing measures aimed at improving safety and protecting the highway, including the deployment of highway guards and installation of solar streetlights.
Completion of the remaining stretch is expected to provide a continuous road connection along one of Nigeria’s key north-south transport corridors and improve the movement of passengers and goods between Abuja and the major commercial centres of Kaduna, Zaria and Kano.
Boluwatife Enome
