–Why the high way matters

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi recently dialogued, on behalf of the Federal Government, with a high-level delegation from the Republic of Chad, led by the Chadian Minister of Infrastructure and Road Maintenance, Mr. Amir Idriss Kourda, on the implementation of the Abidjan-Lagos highway project.

The dialogue centred on the Fluvio Lacustrine Connectivity Programme and a proposal for direct transportation link between Nigeria and Chad.

The minister assured the Chadian delegation Nigeria’s: “activating partnerships and fostering collaborations to address common challenges and to aggregate, harness and project the shared strength of the Sahel region towards realising the full economic potential of the continent of Africa.

“I am happy that you mentioned that your President is in touch with our President on this project. The two countries have a broad and brotherly relationship. We welcome you with open arms. The co-operation between the two countries has been there, especially on security and economy, and Chad is a very important partner to Nigeria. We assure you that the project is key to the development of Nigeria and Chad. As a Ministry of Works, we are capable and ready to do our part as soon as we are given a nod by Mr. President.” He urged the delegation to make official communication on the nitty gritty of collaborations needed from the Nigerian government.”

The leader of the Chadian delegation and Chadian minister of infrastructure said they were in the country to discuss the establishment of a direct transportation link between Chad and Nigeria, which majorly is the construction of a bridge over the Lake Chad, a total of 65km.

He highlighted the potential of the transportation corridor which, he said, would enhance regional connectivity and accessibility, economic development, social cohesion, and political and diplomatic cooperation.

He requested for a meeting between the two countries at technical and administrative levels in order to finetune modalities and mechanisms for realising the programme.

He said the initiative could include port, transport, and fluvial infrastructure projects, as well as joint actions for the preservation of the Lake Chad ecosystem.

The meeting had in attendance the Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo Esq, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Rafiu Adeladan, the Director Highways Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr Clement Ogbuagu, the Director, Highways Bridge and Design, Engr. Musa Saidu, the Director, Legal Services, Chinelo Igboko Esq, among others.

The Director, African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H.EX Amb. Mistura Abudulahem also came to witness the bilateral event.

In the company of the Chadian Minister were: The Ambassador of Chad to Nigeria, H.E Mr. Brah Mahamat; the Chadian Adviser on Infrastructure, H.E Mr. Baharadine Mahamat Zakaria; the Director General of Special Fund for the Preparation of Infrastructural Projects, Mr. Issa Doubragne; the Chadian General Affairs Officer, Mr. Oumar Adam Saleh; the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Mbounadye Antoine, among others.

The project scope and timeline.
The Length is 1,028 km to 1,081 km six-lane expressway along the West African coast that passes through: Côte d’Ivoire 144km, Ghana 520km, Togo 90km, Benin 127km, Nigeria 82km, with Ghana having the longest segment.

The estimated Cost is $15bn – $16bn
The target time to begin construction is 2026, completion projected for 2030.

Financing and next steps
ECOWAS and African Development Bank AFDB are leading mobilization. AfDB has already committed $25m for technical studies and is discussing an additional $500m.

In April 2026, ECOWAS and AfDB ran a joint investment mission and consolidated 200+ proposals into 26 priority projects along the corridor
– ALCoMA board also formed subcommittees including a finance committee, and called on EU, World Bank and other partners to support.

*4. Why it matters*
Officials say it’s designed to cut logistics costs, boost cross-border trade efficiency, and strengthen regional integration.
– Projected to generate ∼$16bn in combined trade value and ∼$1.3bn in toll revenues
– Will also include plans for a parallel high-speed rail line
– The corridor covers over 60% of West Africa’s commercial activity.

*5. Nigeria angle*
Minister of Works David Umahi reaffirmed President Tinubu’s backing, saying the corridor will match the ambition of Nigeria’s Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway. Nigeria also raised concerns about design standards and distribution of length.

*Bottom line*: The highway is no longer just an MoU. With ALCoMA now running and financing talks intensifying, 2026 is being treated as the year construction kicks off.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has deployed 10,000 personnel for the Aug. 15 Osun governorship election.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Corps Public Relations Officer, Kehinde Adeleke, on Monday in Osogbo.

According to the statement, the State Commandant, Igbalawole Sotiyo, disclosed this during a strategic meeting with Area Commanders, Divisional Officers and Tactical Commanders at the Command Headquarters in Osogbo.

Sotiyo said the deployment was approved by the Commandant-General of the Corps, who would lead the operation.

He urged personnel to remain apolitical, maintain strict neutrality and discharge their duties with the highest level of professionalism before, during and after the election.

Sotiyo emphasised that the credibility of the Corps and public confidence in its personnel would depend largely on their conduct throughout the electoral process.

He warned against actions capable of undermining the integrity of the Corps or compromising the peaceful conduct of the election.

“I urge you not to put the name of the Corps into disrepute. Be apolitical, maintain neutrality and respect fundamental human rights.

“Discharge your duties strictly in line with the Corps’ Standard Operating Procedures and other extant laws guiding election security operations,” he said.

The commandant also directed Area Commanders to ensure that personnel under their supervision remain disciplined, professional and responsive to security needs.

He described the NSCDC as a professional, non-partisan agency responsible for protecting lives and property, critical national assets and infrastructure, as well as supporting the maintenance of peace and public order.

Sotiyo further urged personnel to exhibit civility and respect for the electorate, noting that the election is a constitutional exercise.

He said the role of security personnel is to provide a safe and enabling environment for citizens to exercise their franchise without fear or intimidation.

The commandant assured residents that the Corps would work in synergy with other security agencies and stakeholders to ensure a peaceful, secure and credible electoral process.

He reiterated the Command’s readiness to deploy personnel professionally and responsibly, stressing that the Corps would not compromise its neutrality or constitutional responsibilities.

Sotiyo also urged the public to cooperate with security personnel and report suspicious activities through appropriate channels, assuring that the Command would remain vigilant before, during and after the election.

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying the removal of fuel subsidy and other measures have increased the state’s monthly allocation from the Federation Account from about ₦4.5 billion to approximately ₦16 billion.

Governor Sule made this known in Lafia while receiving members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors National Media Tour, led by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The team, made up of presidential media aides and more than 50 senior journalists, is touring North-Central states to inspect federal and state government projects and assess the impact of government policies on development.

According to Sule, the increase in federal allocations has provided Nasarawa State with greater financial capacity to execute major infrastructure and development projects.

He explained that before the reforms, the state received between ₦3.8 billion and ₦4.5 billion monthly from the Federation Account, limiting the government’s ability to undertake major capital projects.

The governor said the situation changed significantly following the economic reforms introduced by President Tinubu.

“Today, we are beginning to see the benefits because the resources available to us have increased tremendously,” Sule said.

He acknowledged that the removal of fuel subsidy and other reforms initially created economic difficulties for Nigerians, but praised President Tinubu for having the political courage to take what he described as difficult but necessary decisions.

Sule said the President “took the bullet” on behalf of the states and local governments by implementing reforms that ultimately freed up additional resources for the three tiers of government.

He also stressed the importance of effective communication in helping citizens understand government policies, particularly when such policies create short-term difficulties but are intended to strengthen the economy in the long run.

The governor said the increased revenue had enabled his administration to undertake major projects in road infrastructure, industrialisation, education, healthcare and water supply across Nasarawa State.

He further assured the visiting media team that his administration remained committed to transparency in the use of public funds.

Sule, who said he came from the private sector, explained that his administration publicly announces the cost of government contracts to enable citizens to monitor expenditure and assess the value being delivered.

Media Team Inspects Projects

During its tour of Nasarawa State, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors National Media Team inspected several completed projects executed by the state and federal governments.

Among the projects inspected was the multi-billion-naira Nasarawa State Secretariat, which houses the Ministries of Education, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Justice.

The team also inspected the 1-megawatt solar farm powering the state secretariat along Shendam Road.

Other projects visited included the completed 16-kilometre Makurdi bypass in Lafia, which connects Nasarawa and Benue states; the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Skills Acquisition Centre; the Shinge Waterstorm Channel; and the completed Kilema Bridge along the Lafia-Doma Road.

Governor Sule described the media tour as an important opportunity for Nigerians to see government projects directly rather than relying solely on official statements.

He said the visit would allow members of the public to assess the extent to which the Renewed Hope Agenda is translating into tangible development at the grassroots.

The governor expressed optimism that continued implementation of the Federal Government’s economic reforms would further improve the financial position of states and enable them to undertake more transformative projects.

Onanuga Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reforms

Speaking during the visit, Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, commended President Tinubu for implementing reforms that he said successive administrations had recognised as necessary but failed to undertake.

Onanuga recalled that President Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy immediately after assuming office in 2023 and subsequently introduced the floating of the naira and ended the system of multiple official exchange rates.

He acknowledged that the reforms initially contributed to inflation and widespread hardship but argued that the measures were necessary to free up government resources.

Onanuga also commended Governor Sule for supporting the reforms at the time they were introduced.

He recalled that Sule had publicly defended the President’s decision, saying Tinubu had effectively taken responsibility for difficult economic decisions that would ultimately benefit the states and local governments.

According to Onanuga, the reforms have released additional resources to state governments that can now be deployed to infrastructure and other development projects.

“What the President did was to free up resources that the state governors have been longing for to develop their states,” Onanuga said.

Also speaking during the inspection of the Makurdi bypass, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Enlightenment, AbulAziz AbdulAziz, said the scale of infrastructure development witnessed in Nasarawa and Benue states was evidence, in his view, that the Renewed Hope Agenda was producing results.

The Renewed Hope Ambassadors National Media Tour is aimed at showcasing government projects and providing the public with first-hand information on the implementation and impact of government policies across different parts of the country.