In a bold move to reshape Nigeria’s economic landscape, the Federal Government has officially flagged off the construction of the Akwanga‒Jos section of the monumental Akwanga Jos‒Bauchi‒Gombe Super Highway.
The 125- kilometre stretch marks the beginning of what officials are calling a transformative era for national integration and prosperity.
Described as far more than just asphalt and concrete, the project is a cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Four Legacy Highway Projects.”
According to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, these infrastructure investments
are designed to be economic corridors that will facilitate trade, create jobs, and connect communities across the nation.
“President Tinubu is not just building roads; he is building economic corridors to drive inclusive national development,” Idris stated during the flag-off ceremony on Wednesday. “This is Renewed Hope in action.”
The Akwanga‒Jos‒Bauchi‒Gombe route joins three other flagship projects—the LagosCalabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, and the Trans-Saharan Route.
Together, they form a strategic web aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s vast economic potential and boosting commerce from the coastlines to the northern borders.
Addressing concerns over regional imbalance, Idris firmly dismissed such claims, emphasizing that the Legacy Highway Projects span diverse regions, reflecting a genuine commitment to national unity.
The Minister also took the opportunity to highlight the administration’s broader
achievements, includes expanded access to higher education through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund NELFUND and reforms boosting investor confidence.
Drawing on a football analogy to rally support, Idris remarked, “If your team is winning, you don’t replace it with the second eleven.
Nigeria deserves the very best, and President Tinubu is providing the leadership to build a stronger and more prosperous nation.”
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, who formally launched the construction, revealed that the project will be delivered in phases to accelerate development across the North Central and North East regions.
He noted that the North Central zone alone currently benefits from 35 major federal road projects and 61 emergency interventions.
Umahi also issued a strong call to contractors to prioritize the employment of local youths and urged host communities to protect the new infrastructure.
The high-profile event drew significant political weight, with National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, representing the President.
They were joined by Governors Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, alongside other senior govt officials and traditional rulers, all signaling a unified front for Nigeria’s infrastructural renaissance.
As the bulldozers roll into Akwanga, the message from the administration is clear: the road to Nigeria’s economic recovery and unity is officially under construction.