Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road Project Nears Completion

Travelers to Nigeria’s North Western region, hitherto strained by long hours of journey with attendant exposure to insecurity now have their anxiety relieved as the Abuja–Kaduna-Kano super highway project inched completion.

The 375 kilometers (km) of dual carriageway of over N700 billion work road is a flagship infrastructure project of the President Bola Tinubu administration designed to enhance connectivity, improve road safety and stimulate economic activities across northern Nigeria.

Several kilometers of road which is divided into three main sections – with section one being Zuba–Jere stretch(FCT to Kaduna), section two: Kaduna-Zaira and section three: Zaria to Kano have been completed while other components like Solar-powered lighting are at advanced stage.

For instance, about 100km have been completed under section one to three (Abuja-Kano); 40km completed in section two (Kaduna-Zaria), and 70km completed under section three (Zaria-Kano).

The major highlights of the project were revealed during the Presidential Media Team tour of federal government projects in Nigeria’s North-West in collaboration with the Governor Hope Uzodimma-led Renewed Hope Ambassadors.

Speaking with journalists on the tour, resident engineer from the Federal Ministry of Works overseeing the project, Engr Chukwuma Kalu, said the contractor has so far covered 88km of concrete pavement from Zuba in FCT to Jere local Government Area of Kaduna State while inbound section from Kaduna to Jere was 21km.

He emphasised that the concrete road is durable and can last from 50 to 100 years old and requires no maintenance like the asphalt pavement.

“Concrete pavements are rigid pavements. They carry the vehicular loads and just transmit only a little bit of it down to the subgrade. Unlike the flexible pavement asphalt, which if any of the underlying layers have issues, then you see the pavement begins to cave in.

“So, the rigid pavement on its own can carry most of the load, regardless of what is happening on that. So, I can tell you and assure you that this rigid pavement is going to last within 50 to 100 years old.

“It is designed to withstand at least 40 megapascals of compressive force. So, the one we’ve been doing here, when we test them in the lab, at 28 days, we already get up to 50, 50 something. We’ll tell you how strong it is.

“One advantage of rigid pavement is that it requires little or no maintenance, unlike the asphalt pavement regardless of what the maintenance culture.

“This administration has decided to do Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavements (CRCP) so that at the end of the day, whether you maintain it or not, it maintains its durability for 50 to 100 years,” he added.

For his part, the senior project manager at Infiouest International, the construction firm ehandling the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway, in charge of the concrete pavement, Also speaking, Robert Turner said while section I just completed, section I will be completed by November, 2026.

According to him, the company

shave engaged over 1,000 local workers from the host communities as engineers, operators of machines and labourers.

“In terms of security, we have support from the Office of the National Security Adviser, One Division of the Nigerian Army and the locals. We thank God; generally, we don’t have any major security threats because we have enjoyed strong community cooperation.

“So, our target for the completion of Section 1 is today, and Section 2 will be completed by November 2026. We work day and night. We are totally dedicated to completing it on time, and you are welcome to come and inspect it at night.

“My workers are working day and night putting six hundred to seven hundred meters of concrete pavement,” Turner stated.

In his remarks, team leader and Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga said the Tinubu-led administration has emarked on impactful infrastructure projects across the country especially in the north.

Onanuga explained that the tour was aimed at bringing the achievements of the administration to the fore in other to dispel rumours and misconception from mischieve makers.

“I think every government must endeavour to blow its trumpet, so what we have done is to showcase what the President has done in the last two years and seven months of his administration.

“The government has done a lot of things. It is just incredible that some people will open their mouths and say the President has not done anything.

“I believe now you have seen for yourselves that many projects are going on, and these are just about roads. There are other projects that this government has been busy working on in these last few years,” he said.

Apart from Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road another milestone to ease transportation in north west is theKaduna-Kano-Jigawa- Katsina-Maradi railway line.

Speaking with journalists on-site, the Project Desk Officer for the Kaduna-to-Kano section at the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Abdullahi Yakubu said the section has reached 68 per cent completion.

He said steady progress had been made across multiple segments of the rail line, reflecting the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding the nation’s transportation network.

Yakubu said the rail line covers 203 kilometres from Kaduna to Kano, with an expected completion date of December 2026.

“A significant portion of the remaining work is concentrated on a major bridge connecting Rigasa to the Afaka-Mando axis, which forms a crucial stretch of the route linking Kaduna to Zaria. Completing this bridge is key to ensuring seamless rail connectivity along the corridor. Work is progressing in line with project timelines.

While in Kaduna, Onanuga led the team and journalists on tour of other federal and state government projects, including the 35-kilometre Gadan-Gayam, Gwaraji; the multi-billion-naira Skills Acquisition Centre; and the 300-bed capacity Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital.

Speaking during visit to the

Gadan-Gayam, Gwaraji road, the Kaduna State commissioner for information, Ahmed Mayaki, said the project which is one of 150 initiated across the state by Governor Uba Sani was possible with the support of the Tinubu-led federal government.

“Now, it is the longest road infrastructure that is connecting 66 farming communities. Along the corridor you have communities before now that were not connected in terms of connecting the farms to the market or connecting women to health facilities or connecting children to school.

“Before now there is no bridge that is linking these two communities. It is not a rehabilitation, it is a construction of a road from the very beginning, a pathway into what we have now.

“It is connecting these large communities and of course we must have a reason to thank Mr President because this is happening because of the increased funding to sub-nationals. The President is supporting state governments and these are the, you know, the evidence of what Kaduna State government is using its resources,”he added.