TINUBU LAUNCHES MAJOR ROAD RECONSTRUCTION AND EXPANSION PROJECT IN NIGER STATE TO BOOST CONNECTIVITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
Governor Describes Project as a Significant Milestone, Reaffirms Commitment to Mobilising Support for Tinubu’s Re-election
By Pan Afric Reporters
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched the reconstruction and dualisation of the 401-kilometre Lambata–Bida–Mokwa–Makera–Kontagora Road in Niger State, a ₦1.83 trillion infrastructure project expected to improve regional connectivity, boost agricultural and commercial activities, and create employment opportunities.
The Federal Ministry of Works disclosed this in a press release dated October 14, 2026, signed by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed A. Ahmed, following the flag-off ceremony performed by Niger State Governor, Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago, on behalf of the President in Bida on Tuesday, October 13.
Describing the project as a major milestone for the state, Bago thanked Tinubu for what he called his bold approach to infrastructure development, saying it would help renew the hope of Niger residents and motorists who depend on the strategic highway.
The governor also pledged to mobilise support for the President and the All Progressives Congress (APC), expressing his commitment to securing a strong electoral victory for the party at all levels in the state.
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, said the Federal Government’s infrastructure drive was gaining momentum across the country, attributing the increased investment in roads to the fiscal space created by the removal of the fuel subsidy.
Umahi disclosed that the Tinubu administration had initiated approximately 5,500 kilometres of road projects across the North-Central zone, with Niger State accounting for more than 1,000 kilometres.
He explained that the Lambata–Bida–Mokwa–Makera–Kontagora Road was being financed by the Dangote Group through the Federal Government’s tax-credit financing model.
The minister further announced that the project would adopt continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) technology, designed to provide a durable and climate-resilient road surface. He stressed that continuity in leadership was important for completing ongoing infrastructure projects nationwide.
FG, Lawmakers Highlight Economic Benefits
The Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, recalled the Federal Government’s recent intervention on the failed Dikko Junction–Maje Road, where immediate palliative works were approved to address longstanding difficulties faced by motorists and host communities along the seven-kilometre corridor.
Similarly, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to infrastructure development and economic recovery, noting that the government’s reforms were intended to strengthen the economy and support agricultural transformation.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, described the road project as a deliberate policy decision by the President to expand infrastructure nationwide.
“What is happening today is not novel; it is intentional on the part of Mr President to provide infrastructure across the country,” Onyesoh said.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, described the highway as a critical link between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions, pledging legislative oversight to ensure effective implementation.
Dangote Group Pledges Timely Delivery
Providing technical details, the Director of Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation in the Ministry of Works, Engr. David Yiltong, said the project would run from Lambata through Bida, Mokwa and Makera to Kontagora.
He explained that the reconstruction and expansion would ease the movement of people and goods, improve access to agricultural communities and markets, strengthen security and facilitate service delivery along the corridor.
A representative of the Dangote Group, Engr. Mansur Ahmed, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to infrastructure development, describing the project as an investment expected to open up communities, expand economic opportunities and generate employment.
Ahmed said the road would be constructed using CRCP technology and expressed confidence that the project would be completed within the stipulated timeframe. He also put the group’s investment in road development across the country at more than ₦5 trillion.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for the North-Central zone, Dr Abiodun Essiet, called for sustained collaboration among federal and state governments, private-sector partners and host communities to ensure that infrastructure projects respond to the needs of citizens.
The Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Highness Dr Yahaya Abubakar, also welcomed the project, expressing optimism that it would improve transportation, stimulate economic activities and enhance the welfare of communities along the route.
The Federal Government said the road project was expected to strengthen regional connectivity, facilitate agricultural and commercial trade, reduce transportation difficulties and improve access to economic centres across Niger State and neighbouring areas.
Its success will depend on effective project implementation, compliance with construction standards, timely completion and sustained financing.
