In what has been described as the fastest road infrastructure execution in Nigeria’s history, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday, October 24, 2026, officially commissioned an 81-kilometre section of the critical Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano dual carriageway.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held in Kaduna, the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, declared that the 81-kilometre stretch, part of a larger 118-kilometre first section, was completed in just 13 months under the current administration.
Addressing party leaders, government officials, and residents who gathered for the event, Minister Umahi highlighted the stark contrast between the current pace of work and historical delays on the corridor.
”Today, you are going to be commissioning 81 kilometres out of this 118. But let me place it on record that this project was completed in just 13 months, whereas 240 kilometres took eight years to be completed previously. This is the fastest project completion in the history of this country,” Senator Umahi stated.
Umahi assured the public that the remaining 20 kilometres of the first section would be fully completed by the end of November 2026. He further disclosed that President Tinubu had directed the complete installation of solar-powered streetlights along the entire 375-kilometre Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano superhighway to bolster safety and night travel.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, detailed the broader scope of the federal infrastructure push in the region.
According to Onanuga, the Federal Government has completed 348 kilometres of both inherited and new road projects across the North-West geopolitical zone, with an additional 1,811 kilometres currently at various stages of active construction.
The event was attended by high-profile government figures, including; Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, whom Minister Umahi commended for his proactive monitoring and support in facilitating project execution and the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, who emphasized strict contractor adherence to quality and completion timelines.
The unveiling formed part of high-profile activities in Kaduna alongside the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign flag-off for the North-West zone ahead of the scheduled January 2027 presidential election.
Following the speeches, President Tinubu unveiled the commemorative plaque, formally opening the 81km stretch to full traffic and signaling continued momentum on Section 2 (164km) and subsequent links up to Kano.
