Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Four Legacy Highway Projects are bold investments that will transform Nigeria's economy, deepen national integration and create lasting prosperity for millions of Nigerians. Speaking at the flag-off of Section One (Akwanga–Jos, 125km) of the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Super Highway in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Idris said the project is another major milestone under the President's Renewed Hope Agenda.
"President Tinubu is not just building roads; he is building economic corridors that will facilitate trade, create jobs, connect communities and drive inclusive national development. This is Renewed Hope in action," the Minister said. He noted that the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Super Highway is one of President Tinubu's four flagship Legacy Highway Projects, alongside the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway and the Trans-Saharan Route, all designed to boost commerce, improve connectivity and unlock Nigeria's economic potential.
The Minister also highlighted other key achievements of the Tinubu Administration, including reforms that have strengthened investor confidence, expanded access to higher education through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), promoted local industrialisation and improved the nation's economic outlook. Using a football analogy, Idris urged Nigerians to sustain their support for the administration. "If your team is winning, you don't replace it with the second eleven. Nigeria deserves the very best, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is providing the leadership to build a stronger and more prosperous nation," he said.
Responding to questions from journalists, the Minister dismissed claims of regional imbalance in federal infrastructure development, stressing that the Legacy Highway Projects span different parts of the country and reflect the President's commitment to inclusive development and national unity. Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the project underscores the administration's commitment to using infrastructure as a catalyst for economic transformation.
Earlier, the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, formally flagged off construction of the 125-kilometre Akwanga–Jos section of the 700-kilometre Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Yobe–Maiduguri Super Highway. He said the project would be delivered in phases to improve transportation, stimulate economic activity and accelerate development across the North Central and North East. Umahi disclosed that the North Central currently has 35 major federal road projects and 61 emergency intervention projects. He urged contractors to employ local youths and promote skills transfer, while calling on host communities to safeguard the infrastructure.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, representing President Tinubu; Governors Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau; the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; the Minister of State for Works, Barr. Bello M. Goronyo; members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers and other senior government officials.
The flag-off of the Akwanga–Jos section marks a significant step in the administration's ambitious infrastructure agenda. The 700-kilometre super highway, which will stretch from Akwanga in Nasarawa State through Jos, Bauchi, and Gombe, all the way to Yobe and Maiduguri, is expected to serve as a vital economic corridor linking the North-Central and North-East regions. By improving connectivity, the project aims to facilitate the movement of goods and services, reduce travel times, and open up previously isolated communities to economic opportunities.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, another of the four legacy projects, is designed to connect the commercial nerve centre of Lagos to the South-South and South-East regions, while the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway will link the North-West to the coastal areas, enhancing trade and cultural exchange. The Trans-Saharan Route, meanwhile, is expected to strengthen Nigeria's ties with neighbouring countries in the Sahel region, positioning the country as a hub for regional trade and integration.
The Minister of Information's remarks come at a time when the Tinubu administration is facing scrutiny over its economic policies and infrastructure spending. However, the government has maintained that these projects are essential for long-term economic growth and national unity. By investing in infrastructure, the administration hopes to create jobs, stimulate local economies, and reduce the infrastructure deficit that has long hindered Nigeria's development.
The ceremony in Akwanga was attended by a cross-section of stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community leaders, and representatives of the contractors. The presence of governors from three states underscored the collaborative nature of the project, which is expected to benefit multiple states and regions. As the construction of the Akwanga–Jos section begins, the administration has urged Nigerians to support the project and to see it as a symbol of the government's commitment to building a better future for all.
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