A pro-democracy group, ‘The Democratic Front‘, has called on leaders in Nigeria’s Northern and South-West regions to rally behind the construction of the 1,000-kilometre Badagry-Sokoto Superhighway.
TDF emphasised the project as a crucial catalyst for economic development, facilitating trade, and improving accessibility between the regions.
The group advocating for socio-economic development in Nigeria, in an issued statement yesterday, signed by its Chairman, ?anjuma Muhammadu, and Secretary, Wale Adedayo, called on the 19 northern State governors and their counterparts in Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states to rally support for the project to begin.
The statement was titled: “Rally support for Badagry-Sokoto Superhighway, TDF tells Northern and South-West Leaders”.
Recall that in April, Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, revealed that President Bola Tinubu had approved the commencement of the design of the 1,000-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry Coastal Highway. He disclosed this during his inspection visit to the km-47 axis of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project in Lagos.
“The construction of the 1,000-kilometre Badagry-Sokoto Superhighway, a major catalyst for economic development between the southern and northern parts of Nigeria, should excite all”, TDF observed.
It highlighted that the recently approved Superhighway promises significant benefits, including enhanced trade, commerce, employment, and socio-economic linkages.
“The plan to construct the Superhighway, which was recently approved, was meant to promote trade and commerce as well as the accessibility of goods and services, among other numerous benefits between the South West, the North West, and, by extension, the larger northern region.
“The approval of the road for construction should excite those interested in the socio-economic development of Nigeria. This is more so for those from the North West, North-Central, and South-Western parts of the country.
“The group proposes that a careful evaluation of the inherent advantages and benefits of the Badagry-Sokoto Superhighway should normally compel well-meaning leaders and stakeholders in these regions to recognise this proposed earth-shaking infrastructural outlay and applaud the proposal,” the TDF statement further read.
TDF urged northern political leaders and stakeholders to support this transformative project and foster a conducive political environment for its success.
“The proposed Superhighway would link five northern states directly to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in Badagry. In addition to boosting the Northern region’s capacity to export its agricultural produce and rich solid mineral resources to the outside world, the Superhighway will provide immediate opportunities for unemployed Nigerians and entrepreneurs living within the axis of the project.
“The proximity of the proposed Superhighway to the border will facilitate regional economic and security cooperation between Nigeria and her neighbouring countries”, it added.
TDF also called on Tinubu to find an effective financing plan for the project, similar to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Superhighway.
“We believe that the 1000-kilometre road project, when completed, will be the largest singular road transportation infrastructure that directly connects the Sahel in the North with the Atlantic Coast in Badagry. This is a dream nursed many years ago by Nigeria’s founding fathers.
According to the statement, the comments made by Tinubu during the meeting with the ACF leave no one in doubt of his sincere commitment to comprehensively address the issue of poor infrastructure and appalling poverty that have bedevilled our country in the past decades.
The onus, therefore, is on the ACF and all other stakeholders to support the president by creating a conducive political atmosphere for the president to complete the good work he has started for the region.
“The governors of Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states should also step up to encourage and support the President on the Superhighway project, which is set to ensure an economic boom for their Nigerians”, it concluded.
