Umahi Says Tinubu’s Govt. Completes 348km of Roads, 4,084km Ongoing, 1,811km Partially Completed as APC Flags Off Campaign

Umahi Says Tinubu’s Govt. Completes 348km of Roads, 4,084km Ongoing, 1,811km Partially Completed as APC Flags Off Campaign

By Raphael Ekpang

Kaduna (Core Reporters) The Federal Government has completed 348 kilometres of inherited and newly initiated road projects, while 4,084 kilometres remain under construction and another 1,811 kilometres are partially completed, the Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, has disclosed.

Umahi presented the figures on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the flag-off of the North West Zonal Presidential Campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Kaduna Township Stadium, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other party leaders  highlighted the administration’s infrastructure programme ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Minister, who also serves as Deputy Director-General, Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation, of the 2027 APC Presidential Campaign Council, said the figures reflected the scale of the Federal Government’s road development programme and the infrastructure investments intended to improve transportation, trade and economic activities across the country.

The disclosure places the spotlight on both the progress recorded in road construction and the substantial volume of work still required to complete ongoing and partially executed projects.

While the 348 kilometres of completed roads represent projects delivered, the 4,084 kilometres under construction and 1,811 kilometres of partially completed projects underscore the importance of sustained funding, effective supervision and timely execution to ensure that infrastructure commitments translate into usable roads.

Umahi said road development remained particularly important to the North West, where agriculture, commerce and cross-border movement of goods and people depend heavily on reliable transport connections.

He explained that improved road networks could reduce transportation difficulties, facilitate trade, strengthen agricultural supply chains, create employment and improve access to essential services.

According to him, better roads would also enable farmers to transport produce to markets more efficiently, help traders move goods at lower costs and connect rural communities with major commercial centres.

Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Corridor in Focus

Among the major projects highlighted by the Minister was the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway, a strategic transport corridor connecting the Federal Capital Territory with major commercial and agricultural centres in Kaduna and Kano states.

The Minister identified the 118-kilometre Lot 1 section of the expressway among the key project interventions highlighted in his presentation. He also referred to the commissioning of approximately 30 kilometres of road works in Kano and the 81-kilometre Tungan Maje–Jere alignment.

The corridor serves as an important link between Abuja, Kaduna and Kano, facilitating the movement of passengers, agricultural produce, manufactured goods and other commodities.

Umahi noted that improved road conditions along the route would strengthen regional commerce, reduce vehicle operating costs and improve transportation efficiency for commuters and businesses.

The Federal Government has also undertaken road construction interventions in Kano State, including the Northern Bypass, the dualisation of the Kano–Maiduguri Road, Section I, covering the Kano–Shuwarin axis, and the Yakasai–Badume–Damargu–Marken Jalli Road.

The projects are intended to improve access within communities, ease movement between settlements and commercial centres, and support economic activities across the state.

Infrastructure and Regional Economic Growth

The Minister said sustained investment in road infrastructure was essential to strengthening economic relationships among the seven states of the North West: Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.

He noted that more reliable road connections could improve the movement of agricultural produce from farming communities to urban markets, support the distribution of essential commodities and enable businesses to reach wider markets.

Improved transport infrastructure could also encourage investment in communities where poor road conditions have constrained commercial activities and socioeconomic development.

Road construction projects generate direct employment for engineers, technicians, construction workers and other professionals, while creating indirect opportunities for suppliers, transport operators, traders and local businesses.

However, the long-term benefits of these investments depend on the timely completion of projects, adherence to engineering standards, transparent management of public resources and effective maintenance of completed roads.

These measures are necessary to ensure that public expenditure produces durable infrastructure that improves mobility and supports economic growth.

Tinubu Urges Voter Participation

Addressing supporters at the Kaduna rally, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urged eligible Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate actively in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He also called on supporters to vote for the APC at all levels, declaring, “Vote APC from top to bottom, APC everywhere.”

The President reaffirmed his commitment to infrastructure development and other government programmes aimed at improving the welfare and prosperity of Nigerians.

He commended governors, traditional rulers, youths and other stakeholders for their contributions to national development.

The rally attracted party leaders, governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers, women’s groups, youths and supporters from different parts of the country.

Shettima, Uba Sani Highlight Government Projects

Vice President Kashim Shettima also highlighted the administration’s development interventions across Northern Nigeria, particularly in road infrastructure, agriculture, regional connectivity and economic expansion.

Shettima commended Tinubu for prioritising infrastructure challenges in the North, arguing that improved road networks were essential to connecting farmers with markets, facilitating commerce and promoting inclusive development.

He expressed confidence in continued political support for the President from Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections.

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, urged Nigerians to assess government performance through verifiable achievements and tangible development outcomes rather than relying solely on narratives circulating on social media.

He encouraged voters to examine completed projects, ongoing interventions and fulfilled commitments in evaluating the administration’s performance.

Similarly, the Director-General of the 2027 APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, urged political stakeholders and supporters to reject misinformation and promote constructive political participation.

Yari maintained that leadership should be assessed through commitments, performance and delivery, with infrastructure development and public welfare remaining central to political discourse.

APC Flags Presented to Seven Governors

A major highlight of the rally was the presentation of APC flags to seven governors from the North West seeking re-election.

The flags were presented by the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, as part of the party’s mobilisation activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The ceremony brought together party leaders, governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers and other stakeholders as the APC sought to consolidate its political structures across the region.

Tinubu was accompanied by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Vice President Shettima and his wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima; governors, lawmakers and senior party officials.

Project Delivery Remains the Key Test

Beyond the political mobilisation, Umahi’s disclosure of 348 kilometres of completed road projects, 4,084 kilometres under construction and 1,811 kilometres partially completed provides a snapshot of the scale of the Federal Government’s road infrastructure programme.

The figures also raise important questions about the pace of implementation, the funding required to complete outstanding projects and the timelines for delivering roads that remain under construction.

For communities and businesses across the North West, the practical value of the infrastructure programme will depend on whether these projects are completed to the required standards and maintained to remain serviceable.

The successful delivery of the projects could strengthen agricultural supply chains, facilitate regional trade, improve access to essential services and reduce transportation challenges for residents and businesses.

As the administration’s infrastructure agenda features prominently in political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, the central measure of progress will be the extent to which announced investments translate into completed roads, improved connectivity and measurable economic benefits for Nigerians.

Ultimately, the impact of the programme will be determined not only by the kilometres completed or under construction, but also by the quality, accessibility and durability of the roads delivered to the public.