N752bn Abuja-Kano highway to be completed by November – Umahi

The Federal Government announced that the remaining sections of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway will be completed by November, with the ongoing works now estimated to cost N752 billion. Minister of Works, David Umahi, stated that more than 80 percent of the cost for the two major sections handled by the current administration has already been paid.

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The Abuja to Kaduna to Zaria to Kano is 375 kilometres by two. 750 kilometers. The President funded part of this project under Julius Berger. We have spent over 200 billion under Julius Berger. They achieved 240 kilometres by two. That’s 480. Remaining 140 kilometres by two. That’s 280 kilometres.

Umahi detailed the project's scope, noting that the Abuja to Kano route covers 375 kilometers in one direction, totaling 750 kilometers when both carriageways are considered. He mentioned that the previous administration spent over N200 billion on a portion handled by Julius Berger, which completed 240 kilometers on each carriageway (480 kilometers total). Approximately 140 kilometers (280 kilometers for both carriageways) remained unfinished from that phase.

The current administration has completed 118 kilometers of the road with concrete pavement within 30 months, a feat Umahi described as unprecedented. Work continues on the remaining 164 kilometers (82 kilometers per carriageway) for these two sections, valued at N752 billion. The minister expressed confidence that the entire stretch would be finished by November.

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For the first time, we are able to complete 118 kilometres of Route 118 on concrete pavement within 30 months. Never happened. Never happened. And today we are battling with the remaining 164 kilometres. That’s 82 kilometres by two. Both of these projects are costing us 752 billion under the President.

To enhance safety and security, the government is installing solar-powered streetlights along the highway. Additionally, "superhighway guards" will be deployed to protect the road infrastructure from vandalism, following observations of attempts to remove sections of the concrete pavement. Umahi also mentioned plans to inaugurate these guards, similar to those being deployed on the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.

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We are putting solar lights. Every 30 meters, you have four poles. All true. I just came back from Lagos where we inaugurated the coastal guards. We are also going to inaugurate on this Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, Kano. Superhighway guards. Because I saw people digging the concrete to remove roads.