President Tinubu Requests Senate Approval for $516 Million Loan to Fund Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway

President Tinubu requests Senate approval for a $516m loan to fund the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, aiming to cut North-South travel time to six hours.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 23, 2026, 11:05 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Legit.ng

Funding the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Agenda

President Bola Tinubu has moved to secure a fresh external loan of $516,333,070 to support his administration’s flagship infrastructure initiatives. In a formal communication read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on April 23, 2026, the President requested urgent legislative approval for a syndicated financing facility provided by Deutsche Bank. This capital is specifically earmarked for the execution of Sections 1, 1A, and 1B of the ambitious Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway project.

The Strategic Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway

The proposed project consists of a 1,000-kilometre carriageway designed to create a seamless link between Nigeria’s North-West and South-West regions. Starting from Illela in Sokoto State, the route will traverse Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, and Ogun states before terminating in Badagry, Lagos State. Once completed, the highway is expected to drastically reduce the transit time between Sokoto and Lagos from 13 hours to just six hours, fundamentally altering the logistics landscape of the country.

Economic Impacts and National Integration

The executive branch has highlighted several critical benefits that justify the massive investment, including enhanced road safety and significantly reduced logistics costs for transporters. By linking major production zones directly to markets and international ports, the superhighway is positioned as a tool for strengthening food security and fostering national integration. Lawmakers have noted that the project will act as a primary catalyst for trade, allowing for the efficient movement of agricultural products across the Nigerian interior.