The Federal Government has kicked off construction on the first stretch of the Akwanga-Kaduna-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri Superhighway, with President Bola Tinubu describing it as a key part of his administration’s infrastructure legacy.
The initial phase, spanning 125 kilometres through Akwanga, Kaduna and Jos, forms part of a much larger 700-kilometre road network designed to connect Nigeria’s North-East region to other parts of the country.
At Saturday’s flag-off event in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, Tinubu — represented by APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda — said the highway would enhance connectivity, drive trade, ease security operations and unlock economic opportunities for communities along its path.
He described the project as one of four major road schemes his government designed to link key regions of the country, stressing that the corridor holds far greater significance than an ordinary road.
According to the President, the towns and cities along the route — Akwanga, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Biu and Maiduguri — represent vital markets, administrative centres, farming zones and security corridors that justify the federal government’s decision to fully reconstruct the road using modern building methods.
A standout feature of the project is the use of Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement technology, which Tinubu said would make the road more durable and less prone to the frequent breakdowns seen with conventional materials. Details shared at the event indicate the highway will feature a 12-metre carriageway built with high-tensile steel reinforcement, alongside extensive drainage systems, bridges and other supporting infrastructure.
Tinubu confirmed that work had already begun on mobilising resources for the next stretch of the project, covering the Gombe-to-Maiduguri axis.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Works Senator David Umahi explained that the superhighway would be financed through a 70:30 arrangement, with foreign lenders covering the larger share and the Federal Government providing counterpart funding. While the total project cost was not disclosed, Umahi confirmed that ₦111 billion had been approved to kick-start site mobilisation. He named China Geo-Engineering Corporation as the contractor handling the project.
The minister also signaled a broader shift in Nigeria’s road construction approach, saying the government intends to phase out asphalt for major highways in favour of more durable alternatives, citing the material’s history of premature failure on Nigerian roads.
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule commended Tinubu for approving the project, calling it a significant boost for the state and the wider northern region. He credited the President’s economic reforms for increasing monthly FAAC allocations to states — from about ₦3.5 billion previously to over ₦13 billion now — which he said has allowed Nasarawa to fund infrastructure projects without taking on debt.
Sule added that once completed, the highway would ease the movement of goods and people, support farming activities, and strengthen economic ties among the states it passes through.
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