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From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has expressed the commitment of the Federal Government to ensure that the ongoing construction of the Akwanga, Jos and Gombe section of the Trans-Sahara Superhighway will be completed.
The Akwanga-Jos road, originally constructed around 1972, is being constructed with concrete to last longer and to enhance connectivity between the northern and southern parts of the country.
The road, which also links Abuja, had not undergone substantial rehabilitation in over 55 years and had become a death trap for motorists.
Yilwatda, who spoke with newsmen during the inspection of the road on Saturday, emphasised the importance of the new project, stating that the Federal Government is targeting a lifespan of over 100 years for the road before repairs are needed.
He said, “The road is part of a larger initiative that spans from Calabar through states such as Ebonyi, Enugu, Benue and Abuja, eventually reaching Jos. The Trans-Sahara Superhighway aims to connect various regions, covering over 1,400 kilometres and linking the South-South, South-East, North-Central and North-East geopolitical zones of Nigeria.”
The APC national chairman noted that the project marked a significant advancement in technology, adding, “This is one of the most significant impacts any government has made on the people in these communities. Today, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we have a project with hundreds of billions of naira committed to it.”
“Beyond just improving transportation, the Akwanga-Jos road project is designed to enhance security and community welfare. The road will feature traffic lights, surveillance cameras, police stations and clinics, all strategically placed along the route to improve safety and healthcare access. This is not just a road; this is connecting communities. This is connecting customers, connecting markets, connecting people, improving security.”
He said the Akwanga-Jos road project would incorporate 24-hour intelligent surveillance cameras, continuous lighting, dedicated police outposts and emergency trauma clinics as part of measures to strengthen security along the strategic corridor.
He added that the security components were designed to protect travellers, monitor criminal activities and facilitate rapid response to emergencies along the corridor.
He said the security infrastructure would include 24-hour intelligent surveillance cameras capable of monitoring vehicle movements and helping security agencies track criminal networks operating along the route.
“It is living proof of what the Renewed Hope agenda stands for, and it is precisely why Nigerians will continue to stand firmly behind President Tinubu,” he said.
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Yilwatda said the Akwanga-Jos corridor, which forms part of the larger superhighway linking major cities in the North, had suffered decades of inadequate attention before the present administration commenced its reconstruction.
“For over five decades, since the days of the late Joseph Gomwalk around 1972, this corridor witnessed only piecemeal patching,” he said.
“Communities along the Nasarawa-Plateau axis rarely saw federal capital projects running into even N10 billion. Today, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has committed hundreds of billions of naira to build an infrastructure asset designed to endure for over a century.”
The Federal Ministry of Works had earlier described the Akwanga-Jos section as a 125-kilometre stretch of the larger Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri superhighway and said the project was designed to improve connectivity, security and economic activity across the North-Central and North-East.
Yilwatda said the use of rigid concrete pavement technology would provide durable infrastructure capable of serving the region for generations, rather than the short-term repairs that had characterised the corridor.
He also described the infrastructure projects being executed by the Tinubu administration as an “unbeatable campaign asset” for the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying Nigerians would be able to assess the government through projects delivered on the ground.
The project’s Equipment Coordinator and Public Relations Officer, Engr. James Baba, who briefed the chairman, said heavy construction equipment had been mobilised to the Jos axis following directives from the Federal Ministry of Works.
Baba said the contractor was working to complete at least 10 kilometres of road formation before Christmas, while another 30 kilometres was expected to be delivered next year.
He also provided an update on the construction progress, highlighting that the test running of the rigid pavement had commenced, with approximately 400 metres already completed.
“Our target this year is to cover about 10 kilometres of earthwork before Christmas,” Baba stated.
He expressed optimism about meeting these goals, assuring that the project would adhere to the highest standards of quality.
The project manager said the decision to use cement concrete instead of asphalt was for longevity, based on specifications from the Federal Ministry of Works.
