The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Works, on Tuesday said the long-delayed Abuja-Kaduna highway has reached 80 per cent completion, with 60 kilometres of the redesigned concrete pavement already delivered, and the remaining stretch scheduled for completion by the end of April.
The ministry disclosed this during an inspection tour of the project as part of the ongoing National Media Tour, reaffirming the government’s commitment to fast-tracking one of Nigeria’s most strategic transport corridors.
The project, now handled by Infouest Nigeria Limited, was re-awarded following the termination of its previous contract with Julius Berger Nigeria PLC.
The Controller of Works on the project, Chukwuma Kalu, described the road as “the heartbeat of the nation,” stressing that its completion remains a top infrastructure priority.
“As you know, the history of this project has been, let me say, quite challenging. There were issues with the former contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, and the project was terminated and re-awarded to Infouest Nigeria Limited to ensure faster delivery,” Kalu said.
He explained that the government not only changed contractors but also redesigned the road from asphalt pavement to Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement.
“This road is so, so important that this government thought it wise that it should be done once and for all. That is why it was redesigned from asphaltic pavement to rigid pavement, that is, continuous reinforced concrete pavement, to ensure durability, quality, and longevity,” he stated.
According to Kalu, the highway links the North-Central and North-West regions to Abuja and serves as a critical corridor connecting Lagos to the northern part of the country.
“This road is a very vital artery to us northerners and indeed to Nigeria as a whole. Enhancing transportation infrastructure is one of the priority areas of the Renewed Hope Agenda, and that is why this project was given topmost attention,” he added.
Providing a detailed progress report, Kalu said the remaining work was awarded in two lots under Section One. He explained that the project comprises a 40.5-kilometre dual carriageway CRCP section, translating to 81 kilometres when both lanes are combined, alongside a 17.3-kilometre asphalt section linking the Kano-Zaria road and a 6.63-kilometre dual asphalt overlay in Kano State.
“To date, we have completed the 6.63-kilometre dual asphalt road in Kano, including the road to Kano airport, which has been marked with streetlights,” he said.
“The 17.3-kilometre asphalt road leading to the Kano-Zaria road is about 80 per cent complete. We are currently putting the finishing touches on some sections.”
On the concrete section, he said, “Out of the 81 kilometres of CRCP, we have completed 60 kilometres. We have 21 kilometres left, and we are confident of delivering before the end of April.”
Kalu dismissed concerns from road users who questioned visible progress in certain segments.
“Sometimes people say we claim we have completed sections, but they don’t see it. The road stretches from behind us here for almost 15 kilometres and continues all the way towards Jere. These are sections that were omitted by the former contractor, and we are addressing them,” he explained.
He added that construction teams are working in shifts to meet the timeline. “We work during the day and also at night to ensure we meet our target of completing the 81 kilometres by the end of April,” he said.
Also speaking, Senior Project Manager of Infouest Nigeria Limited, Robert Turner, said the company was committed to meeting the government’s deadline. “At the moment, we are basically at about 80 per cent of where we should be for Section One,” Turner said.
“We are working day and night shifts to make up time and to make it as little inconvenient for the public as possible. We give our full commitment to finishing everything by the end of April.”
He added, “It is our privilege to complete this project in time. It will serve the country in many ways, economically, socially, and in terms of connectivity. We are fully committed not only to finishing Section One but also moving to Section Two and completing that as scheduled.”
The Abuja-Kaduna highway is one of Nigeria’s busiest and most strategic federal roads, serving commuters, freight operators, and interstate travellers between the capital and northern states.
Over the years, the corridor has suffered deterioration, safety concerns, and prolonged reconstruction delays, prompting public outcry and government intervention.
The decision to redesign the road using rigid concrete pavement marks a significant shift in construction approach, with officials arguing that the new structure will withstand heavy axle loads and reduce maintenance frequency compared to traditional asphalt surfaces.
If delivered as promised in April, the project could signal renewed momentum in the Federal Government’s infrastructure drive and restore confidence among road users who have long awaited its completion.
At an earlier inspection of the 43.65-kilometre Maraba-Keffi Road, the contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company, assured that the project would be completed in June 2026.
The project is under the Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit scheme, awarded on April 19, 2026, at a cost of N73.8bn for a duration of 30 months.
The project manager of China Harbour, Ahmadu Reuben told journalists during the inspection that the road length meets all standards. He commended the Ministry of Works for setting durable standards.
Project data indicates that N35.8bn of the total contract sum has been certified, while N37.9bn (51 per cent) awaits approval. An advanced payment of N15.8bn has been granted, with N9.3bn recovered so far.
The project’s completion stands at 90 per cent, while elapsed time is 87 per cent.
Scope of work included site clearance, scarification and pulverization of existing stone base and asphaltic layer, cut-to-fill operations, laying 200mm stone base on carriageway and 100mm on shoulders, asphaltic concrete binder and wearing courses, and construction of trapezoidal reinforced concrete line drains.
Challenges highlighted include heavy traffic at Maraba, overspeeding, disregard for warning signs, and delayed payments for certified works.
Also speaking, Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Works, Abdullahi Muhammed, said the ongoing inspection aims to showcase the government’s commitment to upgrading transport infrastructure.
“We are here with the Federal Controller of Works, FCT, and the representative of the contracting firm, China Harbour Engineering Company. The essence of this media tour is to bring members of the media to see firsthand what the government is doing in the provision of roads and transport infrastructure for Nigerians,” he said.
He noted that infrastructure development remains central to the policy thrust of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“As you are aware, the enhancement of infrastructure and transportation, which are symbols of growth, is one of the eight priority areas of this administration under President Bola Tinubu,” Muhammed stated.
According to him, the Maraba-Keffi Expressway project involves the construction, reconstruction, and expansion of a critical corridor serving as a major gateway into the Federal Capital Territory from Nasarawa State and other parts of the North-Central region.
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