The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has instructed Messrs Infiouest International Limited, the contractor handling the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano expressway, to intensify efforts and fast-track completion of the project. He directed the firm to increase the number of work zones between Jere and Kaduna to ensure quicker delivery without compromising standards.
The directive followed a meeting in Abuja between the Minister, Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, and representatives of the contracting company.
Umahi emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu places high priority on the strategic highway, noting that the Ministry has instituted weekly monitoring visits to guarantee adherence to specifications and timelines.
According to him, Lot One of the project was awarded at ₦252 billion, while Lot Two, which covers about 164 kilometres within Kaduna State, costs ₦502 billion. He put the total cost for the entire Abuja–Kaduna–Kano stretch at ₦754 billion.
The Minister directed the contractor to deploy resources across four active sections of the project to sustain steady progress. He assured Governor Sani that both the pace and quality of work would be closely tracked to ensure timely completion.
“I want to assure you that the President is deeply committed to getting this project completed. The use of the same high-quality standards applied to the coastal highway will make our brothers and sisters in the North forever grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his love and commitment to equitable development across the country,” Umahi stated.
Governor Uba Sani expressed confidence in the pace and quality of the work, saying the meeting with the Minister and contractor had strengthened coordination on site.
“I have no doubt that in the next two weeks, the contractor will achieve significant milestones given the quality of discussions we had with the Honourable Minister of Works and the project team,” he said.
The governor described the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road as a critical economic corridor that links not only the Northwest but also the North-Central and Northeast regions, connecting about 12 states and facilitating national trade and mobility.
Sani commended Umahi’s leadership style and technical expertise, describing him as “a rare gem in public service” whose attention to detail reflects genuine commitment to national infrastructure development.
“We are proud to have a Minister like Engr. David Umahi, a consummate professional. When I arrived, he broke down every aspect of the project from memory the scope, stages, and quality benchmarks. If we had more Ministers like him, Nigerians would rest easy knowing that projects are in capable hands,” the governor added.
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