FG Commissions 30.58km Abuja–Kano Expressway Section, Umahi Reaffirms Commitment to Inherited Projects
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Federal Government has commissioned 30.58 kilometres of completed works on the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway, reaffirming its commitment to completing inherited infrastructure projects and improving road connectivity, trade and economic activities across Northern Nigeria.
The Federal Ministry of Works disclosed this in a press release dated October 22, 2026, and signed by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed A. Ahmed. The commissioning ceremony took place in Kano State on Wednesday, October 21, with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf performing the ceremony on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, said the completed section reflected the administration’s determination to deliver critical infrastructure inherited from previous governments, despite challenges that had delayed construction.
Umahi explained that substantial portions of the expressway remained unfinished when the Tinubu administration assumed office, following escalating project costs and slow construction progress that led to the termination of the previous contract. He said President Tinubu subsequently directed the Ministry of Works to prioritise the outstanding sections and ensure that they met required standards of quality, safety and durability.
Describing the expressway as a strategic national asset, the minister stressed its importance to transportation, commerce and national integration.
“Its importance extends beyond the North-West Zone, as it supports trade, commerce, haulage and other economic activities, and social interaction, across the country,” Umahi said.
The minister disclosed that Lot 1 of the project, covering 118 kilometres at an estimated cost of ₦252 billion, had been completed. He also said the President directed that the Kano section be extended to the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport to improve connectivity.
According to the ministry, the adoption of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) technology on substantial portions of the road is intended to improve durability, reduce maintenance requirements and deliver better value for public investment. The installation of solar-powered streetlights is also expected to improve nighttime visibility and enhance motorists’ safety.
Umahi reaffirmed the Federal Government’s determination to complete ongoing road projects across the six geopolitical zones, urging Nigerians to recognise the importance of sustained investment in infrastructure.
“President Tinubu rightly deserves our votes to continue the good works,” the minister said.
Governor Yusuf commended the President for prioritising the completion of the expressway, describing it as an important intervention for Kano State and the wider North-West region. He said the road would strengthen transportation links, facilitate the movement of people and goods, improve accessibility and support commercial activities within Kano and neighbouring states.
The Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, also described the commissioning as part of the Federal Government’s broader infrastructure development programme. He commended Tinubu for providing the political direction for completing inherited road projects and acknowledged the contributions of the Kano State Government and other stakeholders.
Providing technical details, the Director of Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. David Yiltong, and the project Engineer’s Representative, Engr. Chukwuma Kalu Igwe, said the commissioned works comprised completed asphaltic pavement at the Kano end and an additional section along the Karfi and Kunkumi axis, bringing the total to 30.58 kilometres.
They explained that the project included pavement construction and rehabilitation, asphalt surfacing, drainage works, improvements to road structures, streetlights, CCTV cameras and associated infrastructure. The completed works, they said, had improved road conditions, traffic flow and access to communities and commercial centres along the corridor.
As part of the event, Umahi also commissioned two urban road projects executed by the Kano State Government under its urban renewal programme: the rehabilitation of Audu Bako Way and the dualisation of Nassarawa Hospital Roads. The projects are intended to improve urban mobility and ease traffic congestion within the Kano metropolis.
In separate goodwill messages, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Hon. Akin Alabi, commended the Federal Government for completing the outstanding sections of the expressway. They highlighted the road’s importance to Kano’s commercial activities and acknowledged the role of the Ministry of Works in advancing the project.
The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruk, also praised the Federal Government for completing major infrastructure projects initiated by previous administrations, including projects begun under former President Muhammadu Buhari. He said the completion of such projects demonstrated the importance of continuity in infrastructure development and expressed support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The Federal Ministry of Works reiterated its commitment to delivering critical road projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda, stating that improved federal highways remain essential to national connectivity, economic growth, commerce and social integration.
