Tinubu Opens Part of Kano-Kaduna Highway

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday opened Section III of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano expressway. This section runs through Kaduna and Kano states.

Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf represented the president at the event. He said the project is an important road link connecting Kano, Kaduna, and other major commercial areas in Nigeria.

The completion of Section III is expected to greatly improve driving conditions. It will reduce hazards from bad road surfaces and lower the number of accidents and deaths on this busy route.

In his speech, Governor Yusuf praised the federal government for focusing on important infrastructure. He said this would help improve transportation, trade, and economic growth in northern Nigeria.

He pointed out that good roads are vital for connecting communities. They help goods move easily and create a better business environment.

"The Kano-Zaria corridor is very important because Kano is the main commercial center for many northern states," Governor Yusuf said.

He mentioned that ongoing investment in transport infrastructure would help farmers, improve market access, and create new business chances for transport operators and small businesses.

The governor also called for better cooperation between the state and federal governments. He asked the federal government to keep the focus on building and fixing major roads in Kano State to support heavy commercial traffic.

The Kano State Government urged drivers on the newly opened highway to follow speed limits. They should avoid reckless overtaking and stick to traffic rules to keep everyone safe.

The complete rebuilding of the 375 km Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway was awarded in late 2017. Work officially started in 2018 during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s time in office.

Julius Berger Nigeria Plc handled the project. It aimed to repair one of Nigeria’s busiest roads, which had been badly neglected and damaged for years.

Funding began with budget allocations and later included support from the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

The multi-billion naira project faced delays due to security issues along the road, funding problems, right-of-way challenges, and changes in the project scope. It moved from simple asphalt repairs to full cold-in-place recycling and thick asphalt concrete pavement for better durability.

To manage the work effectively, the highway was split into three main sections: Section I: Abuja-Kaduna (165 km) is still being worked on, Section II: Kaduna-Zaria (73.4 km) is finished, and Section III: Zaria-Kano (137 km/Kaduna-Kano stretch) is completed under President Tinubu.