FG Commissions 30.58km Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Expressway Section

FG Commissions 30.58km Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Expressway Section

…Umahi says Tinubu prioritises completion of inherited projects

By Raphael Ekpang

Kano (Core Reporters) -The Federal Government of Nigeria has commissioned 30.58 kilometres of completed road works along the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway, as part of efforts to complete critical infrastructure projects inherited from previous administrations.

The commissioning ceremony, held in Kano State on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, was performed by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, said the project demonstrated the administration’s commitment to strengthening national connectivity, improving road safety and facilitating the movement of people, agricultural produce and other goods across the country.

Umahi explained that substantial sections of the expressway remained unfinished when the present administration assumed office, following rising construction costs and delays that led to the termination of the previous contract.

He said President Tinubu subsequently directed the Federal Ministry of Works to prioritise the completion of the outstanding sections to ensure the delivery of the strategic highway in line with required standards of quality, safety and durability.

According to the minister, the President also directed the extension of the Kano section of the expressway to the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).

Umahi disclosed that Lot 1 of the project, covering 118 kilometres at an estimated cost of ₦252 billion, had been completed.

He highlighted the adoption of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) technology on substantial portions of the road, explaining that it would improve durability, reduce maintenance requirements and deliver better value for public investment.

He added that the completed sections, alongside the installation of solar-powered streetlights, had improved road conditions, enhanced nighttime visibility and provided motorists with safer and more comfortable journeys.

Describing the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway as a strategic national asset, Umahi said the highway connects the Federal Capital Territory to major commercial and population centres in Northern Nigeria.

He noted that the road’s importance extended beyond the North-West, supporting trade, commerce, haulage, social interaction and other economic activities across the country.

The minister also listed ongoing federal road projects in the region to include the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, Kano Northern Bypass, Kano–Katsina Road, Zaria–Funtua–Gusau–Sokoto Road and Section I of the Kano–Maiduguri Road dualisation project.

He commended Governor Yusuf for his commitment to infrastructure development in Kano State and appreciated the contractors, consultants, supervising engineers, security agencies and other stakeholders for their contributions to the project.

Umahi urged Nigerians to recognise the importance of sustained investment in infrastructure, stressing that efficient road networks were essential for trade, commerce, national integration and economic development.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s determination to complete ongoing road projects across the six geopolitical zones, describing quality road infrastructure as fundamental to economic growth and social integration.

The minister also called on Nigerians to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, saying the President deserved another term to continue his administration’s infrastructure programme.

In his remarks, Governor Yusuf thanked Tinubu for prioritising the completion of the expressway, describing it as an important development for Kano State and the wider North-West region.

He said the road would strengthen transportation links, facilitate commercial activities, improve accessibility and ease the movement of people and goods within Kano and neighbouring states.

The governor also commended the Federal Government for intervening to ensure that the outstanding sections were completed rather than abandoned.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, described the commissioning as part of the Federal Government’s broader infrastructure development programme.

Goronyo commended Tinubu for providing the political will and policy direction required to advance the completion of inherited road projects. He also acknowledged the contributions of the Kano State Government and other stakeholders to infrastructure development and economic expansion.

As part of activities marking the occasion, Umahi also commissioned two urban road projects executed by the Kano State Government under its urban renewal programme.

The projects comprised the rehabilitation of Audu Bako Way and the dualisation of Nassarawa Hospital Road, both aimed at improving urban mobility, easing traffic congestion and enhancing transportation within the Kano metropolis.

The Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Muhammed Aminu Ahmed, said the commissioning reflected the administration’s recognition of infrastructure as a key driver of economic growth, employment generation and national integration.

Ahmed commended Umahi for his leadership and engineering expertise, while appreciating the Kano State Government, contractors, consultants, supervising engineers and security agencies for their cooperation in delivering the project.

Providing technical details, the Director of Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. David Yiltong, and the Engineer’s Representative, Engr. Chukwuma Kalu Igwe, described the expressway as one of Nigeria’s most important federal highways, connecting the Federal Capital Territory to major commercial, administrative and political centres in Northern Nigeria.

Yiltong explained that the commissioned works comprised completed asphaltic pavement sections at the Kano end of the expressway and an additional section along the Karfi–Kunkumi axis, bringing the total length to 30.58 kilometres.

He said the completed works had improved road conditions, reduced travel discomfort, enhanced traffic flow and improved access to communities and commercial centres along the corridor.

He added that the improved carriageway and streetlighting infrastructure would contribute to safer journeys, better nighttime visibility and more efficient transportation.

According to Igwe, the scope of work covered pavement construction and rehabilitation, asphalt surfacing, drainage works, improvements to road structures, and the installation of streetlights, closed-circuit television cameras and other associated infrastructure.

In separate goodwill messages, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, commended Tinubu for ensuring the completion of the outstanding sections of the expressway.

Onyesoh described the highway as a vital link for Kano State, noting that the state’s commercial and industrial importance made an efficient road network indispensable.

He also commended the ministers of works for their leadership and contributions to the project’s delivery.

Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Hon. Akin Alabi, praised the President for providing the political will to address longstanding infrastructure challenges across the country.

Alabi described Umahi’s appointment as a strategic decision, citing the minister’s engineering background and determination in advancing critical road projects.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North-West Zone, Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, also commended the Federal and Kano State governments for their infrastructure development efforts.

He noted that the engineering backgrounds of Umahi and Governor Yusuf provided common ground for advancing infrastructure development at both levels of government.

The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruk, also commended Tinubu for providing the resources and political commitment required to complete major infrastructure projects initiated by previous administrations, particularly those begun under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The traditional ruler dismissed claims that the Tinubu administration was working against Northern Nigeria’s interests, arguing that the completion of major infrastructure projects demonstrated the President’s commitment to national development and the region’s progress.

He also expressed support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

The Federal Ministry of Works reaffirmed its commitment to completing critical federal road projects under the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with the aim of strengthening national connectivity, supporting economic growth, facilitating commerce and improving the quality of life of Nigerians.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau; the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud; former governors; legislators; and representatives of the Kano and Zazzau Emirates.