By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto

Communities across Sokoto State have hailed the proposed 1,068-kilometre Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway as a landmark infrastructure project capable of transforming trade, mobility, and socio-economic integration across Nigeria.

During an assessment tour of sections of the proposed route, residents and community leaders from Alfala, Kabin Keji, Gumboraje, Gungu, Gadambe, Gidan Gara, and Silame expressed optimism, noting that the corridor would open up long-isolated rural economies and connect local producers to national and international markets.

Elders in Alfala said the superhighway would drastically reduce travel time to major commercial centres and curb post-harvest losses faced by farmers due to poor road access. Similar sentiments were echoed in Kabin Keji and Gumboraje, where residents described the project as a lifeline capable of attracting investment and creating jobs for youths.

In Gungu and Gadambe, traders and transport operators emphasized that the corridor would deepen inter-regional trade between the North-West and South-West, lower transportation costs, and enhance security through increased economic activity and government presence.

Communities in Gidan Gara and Silame called on the Federal Government to ensure timely execution of the project and sustained engagement with host communities, pledging full cooperation with contractors and security agencies. They stressed that the superhighway would promote national unity and shared prosperity.

Leading the tour, Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, Special Adviser to the President on Community Engagement (North-West), alongside Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi, Director of Information at the Federal Ministry of Works, described the highway as a legacy project of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and a strategic priority under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Yakasai said contractors were working round the clock to deliver the project according to specifications and timelines. He added that the road is being constructed with reinforced concrete overlay designed to last decades and will feature modern infrastructure, including CCTV surveillance, solar-powered streetlights, and other safety measures.

The Special Adviser also revealed plans to complement the highway with dam construction to boost agricultural productivity and a rail line along the corridor for large-scale goods transportation. He urged communities to continue supporting contractors and security agencies and commended President Tinubu, Minister of Works Senator David Umahi, Minister of State for Works Barrister Bello Mohammed Goronyo, and Hi-Tech Nigeria Limited for their commitment to infrastructure development.

Engineer Kassim Mai Gwandu, Federal Controller of Works, assured that construction is proceeding strictly according to approved designs and contractual specifications, praising the high level of cooperation from rural communities and noting that no security incidents had been recorded since work commenced.

Project Manager of Hi-Tech Nigeria Limited, Mr. Johan Fourie, reaffirmed the firm’s commitment to completing the project on schedule, highlighting the mobilisation of modern construction equipment and the peaceful collaboration of host communities.

During the tour, Yakasai also inaugurated repair works on a damaged section of the Sokoto–Jega Trunk A Road at Sifawa. The brief ceremony was conducted by Sokoto State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Usman Mohammed Binji, on behalf of the Minister of Works. Binji noted that the intervention reflected the Federal Government’s determination to rehabilitate critical road infrastructure, improve safety, reduce accidents, and facilitate the movement of goods and people.

In a related development, a reconstructed culvert previously washed away at Mandera village in Shagari Local Government Area was also inaugurated. Residents expressed gratitude, noting that the project ended years of seasonal isolation and improved access to markets, schools, and healthcare facilities.

Overall, stakeholders described the interventions as clear evidence of renewed federal attention to Sokoto State’s infrastructure needs, expressing confidence that the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, when completed, will rank among Nigeria’s most transformative transport projects in recent decades.