By Patrick Idowu
The Federal Government has set a 14-month timeline to complete the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano dual carriageway, aimed at enhancing connectivity and safety in northern Nigeria.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, announced this during the inauguration of rehabilitation works on the Abuja-Kaduna section.
The project, divided into three segments for efficiency, includes: Section 1: Abuja to Kaduna, Section 2: Kaduna to Zaria and Section 3: Zaria to Kano.
Upgrades will involve scarifying the existing surface, embankment filling, stabilized crushed rock materials, and reinforced concrete-lined drains.
Minister Idris reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to delivering the project within the set timeframe.
“President Tinubu is determined to ensure that this road from Abuja to Kano is completed within a record 14 months,” he stated.
He explained that the original contractor’s three-year timeline was deemed unacceptable, prompting the government to restructure the contract for faster execution.
Additionally, the project will be extended to include a link to Aminu Kano International Airport and a five-kilometre stretch on the Abuja-Lokoja axis.
Idris assured Nigerians that the rehabilitated road, equipped with solar lighting and reinforced concrete, is designed to last between 50 and 100 years.
Meanwhile, Minister of Works, David Umahi, acknowledged the current poor state of the road—citing cracks, potholes, and drainage issues—and confirmed that emergency repairs are ongoing in four sections to mitigate users’ hardship during the full rehabilitation.
