Goronyo Lauds Tinubu For Super Highway Project, North West Development Commission
By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
The Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Goronyo, has commended the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government for its ambitious initiative to construct the 1,000km Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway project, which will commence from Illela in Sokoto State and traverse the states of Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos.
He also extolled the creation of the North West Development Commission for its role in boosting food security and job creation across the country.
Speaking from his office in Abuja on Thursday, Hon. Goronyo highlighted the strategic importance of the highway, noting that it will connect to the Trans-Sahara Trade Route and interlink with the Trans-African Highway (N’Djamena-Dakar) and Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos. He said this network is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing trade and economic activities throughout the region.
A statement by Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan, quoted the Minister of State to have emphasized that the construction of the highway is expected to create over 1.6 million jobs and foster the development of 46,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within the next five years. Additionally, the project is projected to double Nigeria’s GDP from USD 147 billion to USD 290 billion by improving market access, boosting productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and stimulating agricultural value chains.
Rt. Hon. Goronyo further disclosed that in addition to its economic benefits, the road project is anticipated to attract significant investment in agro-processing, improve livestock trade, revitalize the rural economy, curb rural-urban migration, and strengthen the agricultural value chain through enhanced irrigation systems while the hydropower will improve the security of the region.
He stressed that the construction and operation of the highway will generate substantial employment opportunities, promote regional integration, and support the tourism sector by improving access to various destinations.
Rt. Hon. Goronyo also emphasized that the North West Development Commission will play a key role in addressing the challenges facing the seven states in the geopolitical zone and facilitate the repair of infrastructure ravaged by insurgents in the North-Western states.
The North-West region comprises seven states: Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Katsina.
