ABUJA — Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a request by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to secure a $516.33 million loan from Deutsche Bank to fund the first phase of the planned Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, a flagship infrastructure project under the administration’s economic agenda.
The approval followed deliberations by lawmakers during plenary presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
In a letter read before the chamber, Tinubu described the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway as a transformative project designed to connect Nigeria’s far northwest to its southwestern coastline through a roughly 1,000-kilometre dual carriageway.
The planned route will run from Illela in Sokoto State to Badagry in Lagos State, passing through Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo and Ogun states, linking key agricultural and commercial zones.
The president said the highway would significantly improve transportation efficiency and economic integration.
“The project will improve north-south connectivity, reduce logistics costs and travel times, and strengthen trade facilitation, food security and national cohesion,” Tinubu said.
Financing Structure
The funding package includes a $516.33 million facility from Deutsche Bank, backed by partial guarantees from the insurance arm of the Islamic Development Bank.
The federal government will provide counterpart funding of about 265.54 billion naira to cover land acquisition, compensation and supporting infrastructure.
Tinubu urged lawmakers to approve the request swiftly, citing the project’s importance to national development.
The Sokoto–Badagry corridor is expected to serve as a major economic backbone, linking northern production zones with southern export gateways.
Analysts say the highway could:
- Improve access to seaports in Lagos
- Boost agricultural supply chains
- Enhance regional trade flows
- Attract investment in logistics, manufacturing and real estate
The project also aligns with Nigeria’s broader ambitions under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aimed at improving intra-African trade and competitiveness.
Presenting the report of the House Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management, lawmaker Abdullahi El-Rasheed urged colleagues to support the proposal, describing the highway as a critical driver of long-term economic growth.
Lawmakers subsequently approved the borrowing request, clearing the way for the commencement of the project’s first section.
