N752bn Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway To Be Completed By November – Umahi

The federal government has announced that the remaining sections of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway are expected to be completed by November, putting the total cost of the two major sections currently being executed at N752 billion.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday, saying more than 80 per cent of the funds for the ongoing projects had already been paid.

Umahi also revealed that the government was installing solar-powered streetlights along the highway and planned to deploy “superhighway guards” to protect the infrastructure from vandalism.

The minister spoke when he was decorated as the Patron of the National Association of Nigerian Students by the leadership of the union at the Ministry of Works headquarters in Abuja.

According to Umahi, the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway spans 375 kilometres in one direction, making it 750 kilometres when both carriageways are taken into account.

He explained that the federal government had previously spent more than N200 ppbillion on the section of the road awarded to Julius Berger, with the contractor completing 240 kilometres on each carriageway, representing 480 kilometres.

He said 140 kilometres, or 280 kilometres across both carriageways, remained from the earlier project.

The minister said the current administration had also achieved what he described as an unprecedented feat by completing 118 kilometres of the highway with concrete pavement within 30 months.

He added that work was ongoing on the remaining 164 kilometres, comprising 82 kilometres on each carriageway, under two projects valued at N752 billion.

Umahi said, “The Abuja to Kaduna to Zaria to Kano is 375 kilometres by two. 750 kilometres. The President funded part of this project under Julius Berger. We have spent over 200 billion under Julius Berger. They achieved 240 kilometres by two. That’s 480. Remaining 140 kilometres by two. That’s 280 kilometres.

“For the first time, we are able to complete 118 kilometres of Route 118 on concrete pavement within 30 months. Never happened. Never happened. And today we are battling with the remaining 164 kilometres. That’s 82 kilometres by two. Both of these projects are costing us 752 billion under the President.

“Over 80 per cent has been paid. We are believing that by November the entire stretch would have been completed.”

Umahi said the government was also taking measures to improve security and visibility along the highway, particularly following reports of attempts to damage the concrete pavement.

“We are putting solar lights. Every 30 meters, you have four poles. All true. I just came back from Lagos where we inaugurated the coastal guards. We are also going to inaugurate on this Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, Kano. Superhighway guards. Because I saw people digging the concrete to remove roads,” he said.

The minister stressed that the government would not allow vandalism and other criminal activities to undermine its investment in the strategic highway.

He said the proposed “superhighway guards” would complement existing infrastructure protection efforts and help safeguard the road, which serves as a major transport corridor connecting the Federal Capital Territory with Kaduna, Zaria and Kano.

Umahi also defended the Federal Government’s infrastructure spending, arguing that major construction projects were generating employment and creating economic opportunities across the country.

According to him, construction sites have continued to provide both direct and indirect jobs, making infrastructure investments more than mere government expenditure.

He maintained that the projects were contributing to economic activity while improving transportation and connectivity across the country.