The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has announced that the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano dual carriageway will be completed and ready for use within the next 14 months. Idris made the statement during the inauguration of the rehabilitation of Section 1 of the road, which covers the Abuja to Kaduna stretch, on Thursday.
The project is divided into three sections: Section 1 (Abuja to Kaduna), Section 2 (Kaduna to Zaria), and Section 3 (Zaria to Kano). The scope of work on the road includes the scarification and pulverization of the existing bituminous surface, which will be used as sub-base material for filling embankments. The project will also involve the installation of reinforced concrete lined drains, median barriers, and other necessary hydraulic structures.
Further improvements will include the provision of approved crushed rock material for the shoulders and carriageway, and the application of a 200mm-thick continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) on the carriageway and shoulders. Median drains will also be added where needed.
Idris emphasized that the road project is a top priority for the administration of President Bola Tinubu, who is determined to ensure its completion in record time. He explained that the government had canceled the previous contract, under which the road was expected to take three years to complete, and insisted on a 14-month deadline.
“President Tinubu is fully committed to completing this road from Abuja to Kano in 14 months. The road has been divided into three segments to facilitate faster construction, and we will not accept any delays,” Idris stated. He also mentioned that the National Assembly had been fully cooperative, and there would be no obstacles to the timely completion of the road.
The project, which is expected to be a major boost to the nation’s infrastructure, is designed to meet the needs of Nigerians, especially those who frequently use this critical transportation route.
Meanwhile, Minister of Works, David Umahi, provided additional details on the project, including an extension to the Aminu Kano International Airport and a further five-kilometre extension on the Abuja-Lokoja section of the road. Umahi noted that Section 1 of the road begins at Zuba Junction and terminates at the Kaduna Western Bypass.
Umahi also highlighted the challenges posed by the deteriorating state of the existing pavement between Abuja and Kaduna, which has suffered from alligator cracks, corrugation, rutting, potholes, and poor drainage. The Ministry of Works has already intervened with emergency repairs to address these issues, with maintenance work currently being carried out on four stretches simultaneously to expedite the repairs.
The new road will be equipped with solar lights and is designed to last between 50 and 100 years, ensuring long-term reliability for users.
“The existing pavement has undergone significant deterioration over the years, leading to a range of failures. The government is taking swift action to alleviate the difficulties faced by road users,” Umahi concluded.
