ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The House of Representatives has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to secure a $516.33 million loan from Deutsche Bank for the construction of Section I of the proposed Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, a flagship infrastructure project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The approval was granted on Tuesday during plenary in Abuja, following deliberation by the Committee of Supply, with Speaker Tajudeen Abbas presiding over proceedings.
The request was contained in a presidential letter read on the floor of the Green Chamber, in which Tinubu described the superhighway as a transformative national project designed to strengthen connectivity between Nigeria’s northwestern region and its southwestern coastal axis.
According to the President, the project will span about 1,000 kilometres, running from Illela in Sokoto State to Badagry in Lagos State, and passing through Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states.
Tinubu explained that the highway is expected to open up agricultural and industrial corridors across the country while improving the movement of goods, services, and people.
He added that the project would “improve north-south connectivity, safety and network performance on the corridor; reduce logistics costs and travel times,” while also boosting trade, food security, and national integration.
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The President further noted that provisions have been made for future rail integration within the highway’s median, alongside utility infrastructure corridors.
Funding for the project includes the $516.33 million facility from Deutsche Bank, supported by partial guarantees from the Islamic Development Bank’s insurance arm, while the Federal Government of Nigeria will contribute N265.54 billion as counterpart funding.
The counterpart funds, according to the proposal, will cover land acquisition, compensation, and related infrastructure requirements.
Tinubu urged lawmakers to expedite approval, stressing the strategic importance of the highway to national development and economic transformation.
The Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway is conceived as one of Nigeria’s largest road infrastructure projects, aimed at linking major production zones in the North with export gateways in the South.
Beyond transportation benefits, the project is expected to stimulate agriculture, enhance regional trade, boost port access, and attract investments in manufacturing, logistics, and real estate along its corridor.
It also aligns with Nigeria’s broader infrastructure modernization agenda under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
Presenting the committee’s report, Abdullahi El-Rasheed, representing the Chairman of the House Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management, Abubakar Nalaraba, urged lawmakers to support the loan request, describing the project as economically strategic.
Following deliberations, the House approved the borrowing request, clearing the way for the commencement of the first phase of the superhighway project.