The House of Representatives has approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request for a $516 million loan facility to fund the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway project.
The approval was given during plenary on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, following the consideration and adoption of a report by the House Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management.
Lawmakers said the project is part of the federal government’s broader infrastructure drive to open up economic corridors and improve connectivity across the northern and southwestern regions.
The Sokoto-Badagry highway is planned as a 1,068km transnational route linking Sokoto in the Northwest to Badagry in Lagos State, cutting across Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, and Ogun states. The $516 million loan is expected to cover part of the construction cost for key sections of the road, with counterpart funding from the federal government.
The Ministry of Works and Housing told the House that the highway will facilitate trade, reduce travel time, and enhance security response along the corridor once completed. It is also projected to boost agricultural and solid mineral transportation to coastal ports.
During debate, members of the House noted concerns about Nigeria’s rising debt profile but argued that the economic benefits of the highway outweigh the borrowing cost if properly executed.
The committee chairman said the loan terms are concessional, with a repayment period of 20 years, including a 7-year moratorium, and an interest rate below 2 percent.
The House directed the Ministry of Finance and the Debt Management Office to ensure transparency in disbursement and to submit quarterly progress reports on the project. The Senate is expected to consider the request for concurrent approval.
The Sokoto-Badagry highway is one of four legacy road projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda, alongside the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, and the Enugu-Port Harcourt road.
The federal government says the projects are designed to connect all six geopolitical zones and stimulate regional integration. Construction work on the Sokoto-Badagry route is already ongoing in several sections, with the new loan intended to accelerate delivery timelines ahead of 2027.
