Nigeria’s infrastructure drive gained fresh momentum on Tuesday as the House of Representatives approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to secure a $516.33 million loan from Deutsche Bank. The funding will support Section I of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, a flagship project under the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at transforming national connectivity.
During plenary, presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, lawmakers considered the proposal through the Committee of Supply before granting approval. In his communication to the Green Chamber, the President outlined the strategic importance of the highway, describing it as a game-changing project that will link Nigeria’s far northwest to its southwestern coastline.
Stretching প্রায় 1,000 kilometres from Illela in Sokoto State to Badagry in Lagos State, the dual carriageway will pass through key states including Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, and Ogun. As a result, the corridor will unlock agricultural, commercial, and industrial opportunities across multiple regions.
Furthermore, the project aims to enhance the movement of goods and people, reduce logistics costs, and shorten travel time. It will also strengthen trade, improve food security, and promote national unity by connecting production zones to markets and ports.
Importantly, the highway design includes provisions for future rail integration and utility corridors, ensuring long-term infrastructure flexibility. While Deutsche Bank will provide the primary loan, the Federal Government will contribute N265.54 billion for land acquisition and related infrastructure.
Ultimately, lawmakers endorsed the proposal, paving the way for construction to begin and positioning the project as a catalyst for economic growth and regional development.
