By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

A member of the House of Representatives, representing Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency of Ogun State, Hon. Nasir Gboyega Isiaka, has said the Badagry–Sokoto Super Highway has the potential to unlock long-stalled economic opportunities across Nigeria’s border communities and reposition the South-West as a strategic gateway for trade and industry.

Isiaka, who chairs the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, described the highway as a game-changing infrastructure project, noting that its passage through Owode-Afon and direct linkage to Imeko would significantly boost economic activities in the area and adjoining border communities.

He spoke on the sidelines of a formal reception held in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area for prominent former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders, including Chief Lisa Adejobi and Beere Mujjidat Balogun, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The event attracted party leaders, community stakeholders and political associates from across the local government.

According to the lawmaker, the scale and intent of the Badagry–Sokoto project reflect a deliberate economic strategy by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy infrastructure as a catalyst for growth, production and regional integration.

He described the highway as a strategic economic corridor linking coastal commerce in Badagry with the agricultural and trade belts of northern Nigeria, with far-reaching implications for border towns long neglected in national development planning.

Isiaka added that the road’s connection from Owode in Ogun State through Badagry in Lagos and onward to sub-Saharan trade routes would further strengthen Nigeria’s participation in regional commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He said: “On my way to Imeko today, I carefully observed the stretch of the Badagry–Sokoto Road currently under construction. What is unfolding is a landmark project. For decades, communities along this corridor have existed on the margins of opportunity. This road brings them into the centre of national economic thinking.

“It opens access to markets, reduces transport costs, strengthens food supply chains and creates opportunities for agro-processing, logistics and light manufacturing.

“This road is more than infrastructure; it is a planning instrument. Projects of this nature shape settlement patterns, guide investment decisions and stimulate industrial clusters. When production zones are efficiently linked to ports and borders, the result is broad-based and sustainable growth.”

He commended President Tinubu for what he described as a clear commitment to infrastructure-driven industrialisation, noting that the administration understands the critical link between logistics, productivity and national competitiveness.

“You cannot talk about industrialisation without solving logistics challenges, just as you cannot achieve food security without connecting farms to markets. This project demonstrates that understanding,” he added.

At the event, party leaders said the defections were a reflection of growing confidence in the APC’s leadership and policy direction at both the federal and state levels.

In his closing remarks, Isiaka urged party members to match political expansion with responsible leadership and effective service delivery.

He called for unity within the APC in Ogun State, expressing confidence that the party would secure decisive victories in the 2027 general elections on the strength of good governance, infrastructure development and inclusive politics.