BY EMMA PETER, ABUJA
The Federal Government has commissioned an additional 30.58 kilometres of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway, reaffirming its commitment to completing inherited infrastructure projects and improving road transportation across the country.
The project was commissioned in Kano State on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the ceremony.
In a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Works, Mohammed A. Ahmed, the commissioning marked another milestone in the government’s efforts to complete outstanding sections of major federal highways and strengthen connectivity between the Federal Capital Territory and commercial centres in Northern Nigeria.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, said the completion of the road reflected the administration’s determination to deliver critical infrastructure capable of supporting economic activities, improving transportation and facilitating the movement of agricultural produce and other goods.
Umahi explained that several sections of the expressway remained unfinished when the Tinubu administration assumed office, following rising construction costs and delays that eventually led to the termination of the previous contract.
He said the President subsequently directed the Ministry of Works to prioritise the outstanding sections and ensure that the road was completed to the required standards of quality, safety and durability.
According to the minister, the administration also approved the extension of the Kano section of the expressway to the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport to improve access to the airport and strengthen transportation links within the state.
He disclosed that Lot 1 of the project, covering 118 kilometres at an estimated cost of ₦252 billion, had been completed.
The minister further highlighted the adoption of continuously reinforced concrete pavement technology on substantial portions of the highway, explaining that the approach was intended to improve durability, reduce maintenance costs and ensure better value for public funds.
He added that the completed sections, alongside the installation of solar-powered streetlights, would improve visibility at night, enhance road safety and provide motorists with more comfortable journeys.
Describing the expressway as a strategic national asset, Umahi noted that the route connects Abuja with major commercial, administrative and population centres across Northern Nigeria.
He said the highway’s importance extended beyond the North-West, given its role in supporting trade, haulage, commerce and other economic activities linking different parts of the country.
Umahi also listed several federal road projects being undertaken across the North-West, including the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, Kano Northern Bypass, Kano–Katsina Road, Zaria–Funtua–Gusau–Sokoto Road and the dualisation of Section I of the Kano–Maiduguri Road.
He commended the Kano State Government and other stakeholders for their contributions to infrastructure development, while urging Nigerians to recognise the importance of sustained investment in road networks as a foundation for economic growth and national integration.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to completing ongoing road projects across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
Governor Yusuf, in his remarks, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for prioritising the completion of the expressway, describing it as an important intervention that would improve transportation and support commercial activities in Kano and neighbouring states.
He said the improved road would facilitate the movement of people and goods, strengthen links between communities and enhance access to major economic centres.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, described the commissioning as part of the Federal Government’s broader infrastructure development programme.
Goronyo commended Tinubu for providing the leadership and policy direction required to advance the completion of inherited road projects, while acknowledging the contributions of the Kano State Government and other stakeholders.
The ceremony also featured the commissioning of two urban road projects executed by the Kano State Government under its urban renewal programme. The projects are the rehabilitation of Audu Bako Way and the dualisation of Nassarawa Hospital Roads.
The two projects are expected to complement the federal highway intervention by improving urban mobility, easing traffic congestion and enhancing transportation within the Kano metropolis.
Providing technical details, the Director of Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, David Yiltong, and the Engineer’s Representative, Chukwuma Kalu Igwe, explained that the commissioned works comprised completed asphaltic pavement at the Kano end of the expressway and an additional section along the Karfi and Kunkumi axis.
They said the completed works brought the total length covered to 30.58 kilometres, improving the condition of the highway, reducing travel discomfort and enhancing access to communities and commercial centres along the corridor.
According to the engineers, the scope of work included pavement construction and rehabilitation, asphalt surfacing, drainage improvements, road structure works, streetlight installations, CCTV cameras and other associated infrastructure.
The Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Muhammed Aminu Ahmed, said the project demonstrated the government’s recognition of infrastructure as a driver of economic growth, employment generation and national integration.
He commended the leadership of the Ministry of Works and acknowledged the contributions of contractors, consultants, supervising engineers, security agencies and the Kano State Government towards the successful delivery of the project.
In separate goodwill messages, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Allwell Onyesoh, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, commended the Federal Government for ensuring the completion of the outstanding sections of the expressway.
They stressed the importance of efficient road networks to Kano’s commercial and industrial activities, while acknowledging the government’s efforts to address longstanding infrastructure challenges.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for the North-West Zone, Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, also praised the federal and state governments for their infrastructure initiatives.
Similarly, the Emir of Daura, Faruk Umar Faruk, commended the administration for completing major infrastructure projects initiated by previous governments, particularly those started during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The traditional ruler rejected claims that the Tinubu administration was acting against the interests of Northern Nigeria, arguing that the completion of strategic infrastructure projects demonstrated its commitment to the development of the region and the country.
He also expressed support for Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Other dignitaries at the event included Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory Mariya Mahmoud, former governors, lawmakers and representatives of the Kano and Zazzau Emirates.
The Federal Ministry of Works said it would continue to pursue the timely completion of critical federal road projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with emphasis on national connectivity, economic growth, commercial activities and improved living standards for Nigerians.
