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Senate calls for construction of Badagary-Sokoto Expressway

By Dennis Erezi
03 March 2021   |   3:52 pm
Nigerian Senate on Wednesday called for the construction of Badagary/Sokoto Expressway to promote economic growth in the country. Senator Sadiq Umar and seven other Senators made a case for the project during the Senate plenary session. Senate president Ahmad Lawan mandated the Committees on Works, Finance, and National Planning & Economic Development to jointly inter-face…

Nigerian Senate on Wednesday called for the construction of Badagary/Sokoto Expressway to promote economic growth in the country.

Senator Sadiq Umar and seven other Senators made a case for the project during the Senate plenary session.

Senate president Ahmad Lawan mandated the Committees on Works, Finance, and National Planning & Economic Development to jointly inter-face with the Ministry of Works, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), and other relevant authorities to determine why the Badagry-Sokoto Expressway has been abandoned for such a long time.

Lawan asked the committees to provide a permanent and sustainable solution plan and report to the Senate within 2 weeks.

He urged the federal government to direct the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and Infrastructure Concessioning and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to urgently initiate a BOT or PPP arrangement for the construction of this most important highway.

Known as the Badagary/Sokoto Expressway, the expressway was designed to link Nigeria and some West African countries through Seme border.

The road connects Apapa seaports, Seme land border, and one of Nigeria’s largest industrial hub – Agbara Industrial Estate, where both Federal and Ogun State governments generate huge revenue annually. It was expected to connect about 12 states.

Despite the potential, the road has been abandoned for about 40 years.

Senator Sabi Abdullahi said the road has a very long history with the bulk of Nigeria’s economic trade is along the West Coast and to get to this west coast you cannot do without this corridor, it is necessary to construct the expressway.

Senator Ibikunle Amosun noted that the road has a strategic nature to open the corridor and fast-track development.

Senator Sani Musa, while seconding the motion by Senator Umar, said the expressway is a link road that “will reduce the only one single road that goes to Jebba, linking north and south. If this road is constructed, it will sustain the lifespan of our roads. I so stand to support this motion wholeheartedly.”

Senator Tolu Odebiyi said the construction of the road is a necessity for the country’s economy.

“It is important that the government goes back to this road, open it up and make it viable and open this country up for more economic investment,” Odebiyi said.

Senator Adeola Solomon said the Badagry corridor of this road is an international road and the state of this road is nothing to write home about.

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