By Peter Dansu President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the sum of ₦553 billion for the commencement of construction of the Badagry–Oyo sec...
By Peter Dansu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the sum of ₦553 billion for the commencement of construction of the Badagry–Oyo section of the ambitious Sokoto–Badagry Coastal Super Highway project. The approval was part of a series of new and revised road projects sanctioned at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.
The Badagry–Oyo stretch, covering 163 kilometres, will be constructed using full concrete pavement at an estimated cost of ₦3.39 billion per kilometre. The project, which marks a major step in the administration’s plan to connect Nigeria’s northern and southern economic corridors, is expected to transform trade, transportation, and tourism within the region once completed.
In addition to the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway approval, the Council also endorsed several other major infrastructure projects across the country. These include the reconstruction of the Ota–Idiroko Road and flyover in Ogun State, which received a combined approval of ₦121 billion; the upgraded Ijebu Igbo–Etapa–Owoyen Road linking Ogun and Oyo States, now valued at ₦53 billion; and a fresh ₦43.73 billion award for Phase II Section II of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, which will feature new underpasses, ramps, and side roads to ease traffic flow.
Other approved projects include the Ilorin–Omu Aran–Egba Road Phase I in Kwara State at ₦43 billion; the Wasasa–Turunku–Mararaba Road Phase II in Kaduna at ₦30.23 billion; and the Enugu–Onitsha Road Phase I, stretching 35 kilometres from OP Junction to the Anambra border, valued at ₦28.47 billion. The Mushin–NNPC–Apapa–Oshodi dualisation project in Lagos was also revised upward to ₦19.09 billion, reflecting the strategic importance of the corridor as a major port access route.
Additionally, the long-delayed East–West Road project was restructured with an inherited ₦156 billion package, which now includes three flyovers and two new bridges along the Port Harcourt–Warri axis.
Speaking on the approvals, the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, explained that the upward reviews in project costs were necessitated by improved engineering designs, challenging terrain, and rising construction material prices. He revealed that the price of reinforcement steel had surged to over ₦1.1 million per ton, significantly impacting previous cost estimates.
Umahi emphasized that the government’s preference for concrete roads was driven by the need for durability and long-term cost efficiency. “The revised approvals reflect our commitment to durable, concrete-based infrastructure that can withstand decades of use while ensuring value for money,” he said.
He further disclosed that the governors of Edo, Delta, and Abia States have taken up the responsibility of financing and executing certain federal road projects within their territories. This collaboration, he noted, is designed to ease the federal government’s financial burden and accelerate project delivery across the nation.
With the approval of the ₦553 billion for the Badagry–Oyo section of the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, President Tinubu’s administration continues to demonstrate a strong focus on infrastructure as a catalyst for national development, economic integration, and regional connectivity.
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