The Federal Government has disclosed that completing the reconstruction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway will require N761 billion.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, revealed the funding estimate on Saturday while inspecting the ongoing project.
Umahi explained that the project is divided into three sections, with sections one and three covering a combined 118 kilometers at a total cost of N252 billion.
“For sections 1 and 3, the President has paid 30 per cent, which is around N60 billion,” he said.
Section two spans 72 kilometers, combining reinforced concrete and flexible pavement over 15 kilometers, with a total cost of N507 billion, of which 30 per cent—over N150 billion—has been paid.
“When we combine the two projects up to Kano, it is about N761 billion,” Umahi said. “This is highly courageous, and I commend the President for his interest in building these roads.”
The minister described the project as a priority for the Tinubu administration, noting the President’s personal commitment to its timely completion. “We are happy for the section completed on concrete. Before, this road had been under construction for ten years. Now we are building roads that will last,” he said. Umahi assured that the roads under construction are designed to last over a century, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.
He added that contractors have been instructed to adhere to international quality standards. “The President has directed that the Ministry should replicate the quality of road applicable in the Western world,” Umahi said. “This is why we have to talk to contractors to do a good job.”
The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, also addressed contractors, urging them to accelerate work to compensate for delays caused by the rainy season. “People are anxious for the timely completion of the project. Contractors must work fast to meet the deadline,” he said.
Umahi further emphasized the broader economic impact of durable roads. “Roads and bridges are indicators that grow our GDP. Other sectors of the economy depend on durable roads and bridges,” he said. He encouraged young engineers to familiarise themselves with new trends and innovations in road construction to sustain the sector’s growth.
