The Kaduna State Government has so far spent about ₦8.2 billion on the Kabala–Costain Road dualisation project, which is expected to be completed in 2026, the Managing Director of the Kaduna State Roads Agency (KADRA), Dr. Abdullahi Baba Ahmed, has disclosed.

Speaking during an inspection visit to the project site, Dr. Ahmed said Governor Uba Sani’s administration inherited the road at only 35 percent completion from the previous government led by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

According to him, the project had been stalled due to design flaws and funding challenges. He explained that the current administration cleared an outstanding debt of ₦2.2 billion owed to the contractor and mobilised the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) with an additional ₦6 billion.
“A total of ₦8.2 billion has been expended on the project so far. The road will be completed next year, 2026,” Dr. Ahmed stated.
He described as “pure misinformation” claims that the El-Rufai administration had completed up to 70 percent of the project, noting that only one bridge and about 600 metres of the 2.7-kilometre stretch, roughly 22 percent of the total work, had been executed before it was abandoned.
“It’s simple arithmetic. Six hundred metres out of 2.7 kilometres is 22 percent. This administration is constructing the remaining 2.1 kilometres and an additional bridge,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chief Consultant for the project, Shakirudeen Adesina Akinloye, said the contract was originally awarded in 2020 but stalled in 2022 due to major design and payment issues.
“When we resumed, we discovered that the initial design was unsafe—it included a sharp curve immediately after the bridge, which could have caused accidents. The design has now been revised to ensure smooth traffic flow and safety,” Akinloye explained.

He added that the redesign introduced a gentler curve and a second bridge to address flooding and safety concerns, noting that soil tests revealed a subsoil depth of about nine metres.
“Rather than spend heavily on soil stabilisation, the present government approved a second bridge, which is both faster and more cost-effective,” he said.

Corroborating this, Dr. Ahmed said investigations also showed that the old alignment narrowed the water channel, leading to flooding during the rainy season.
“We had two options, either spend more on soil stabilisation or extend the bridge. We chose the latter because it’s safer and more sustainable,” he noted.

He commended Governor Uba Sani for his commitment to completing the project despite the financial liabilities inherited from the previous administration.
“This government has taken the bull by the horns. It paid off the contractor’s debt and ensured that work resumed at full speed,” he said.

Project Manager of CCECC Kaduna Office, Mr. Henry Zhang, confirmed that the company had received the necessary advance payments and had resumed full-scale operations.
“With Governor Uba Sani’s leadership, the project has been revived and is progressing smoothly. We are determined to deliver a high-quality road that will enhance traffic flow, connect communities, and boost Kaduna’s economy,” Zhang stated.

The Kabala–Costain Road project spans 2.7 kilometres, linking Aliyu Makama Road to Costain Junction in Kaduna North. Upon completion, it is expected to ease traffic congestion, prevent flooding, and strengthen economic connectivity between Kaduna North and Kaduna South.