By Mercy Peter
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said the proposed Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway will significantly boost agricultural production, expand trade and unlock new economic opportunities for communities and states along its 1,000-kilometre corridor.
Idris, who made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja, said Kebbi State would be among the major beneficiaries of the infrastructure project, with about 250 kilometres of the highway expected to traverse the state.
The minister spoke when he received the Kebbi State Commissioner for Information, Yakubu Ahmed Birnin-Kebbi, and members of the state governor’s media team on a courtesy visit.
He described the highway as more than a transportation project, stressing that its wider objective was to stimulate economic activities and connect communities, states and cities along the corridor with new opportunities for growth.
According to him, the project has the potential to transform agriculture, trade, energy and other sectors by improving connectivity and opening up previously underserved areas.
“The Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway is not just designed to link communities, states and cities together. It is also designed to provide an avenue for the advancement of economic activities in the corridor.
“About 250 kilometres of that super highway will pass through Kebbi State,” he said.
Idris said the infrastructure would provide a major boost to agricultural production, particularly in states with significant agricultural potential such as Kebbi.
He noted that the project would be complemented by the development of about 63 dams expected along the corridor, creating additional opportunities for irrigation, agriculture and power generation.
The minister said the combination of improved road infrastructure and water resources could significantly expand economic activities along the route, particularly by supporting farming communities and facilitating the movement of agricultural produce to markets.
The development, he added, could help reduce logistical constraints facing farmers and businesses while strengthening connections between production centres and major markets.
Kebbi, which is one of Nigeria’s major agricultural states, could particularly benefit from improved connectivity to other parts of the country, given its large-scale farming activities and proximity to regional trade routes.
The minister also commended the Kebbi State Government for its cooperation with the Federal Government, particularly in agriculture, infrastructure and security.
He said effective collaboration between the two levels of government was essential to translating infrastructure investments into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
Idris recalled witnessing the impact of federal-state collaboration on agricultural development in Kebbi, citing large-scale tomato farming and the participation of women in agricultural activities.
“I have witnessed first-hand what collaboration between the Federal Government and the states can achieve in agriculture. In Kebbi, we saw large-scale tomato farming and women actively participating in agriculture and earning livelihoods,” he said.
He stressed that such initiatives demonstrated the economic potential that could be unlocked when government policies, infrastructure and local enterprise were brought together.
According to him, infrastructure development must ultimately translate into opportunities for people in communities across the country.
Idris said the Federal Government’s investments in major infrastructure projects, including the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, were consistent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s objective of taking development closer to Nigerians.
He argued that since the majority of Nigerians live outside the Federal Capital Territory, national development efforts must focus on states and communities where citizens live and conduct their economic activities.
“The population of Nigeria exists mainly in the states, not in Abuja. That is why the Federal Government continues to work with state governments to take development to where the people are,” he said.
The minister maintained that infrastructure such as the super highway could serve as a catalyst for private-sector investment, agricultural expansion and the development of businesses along the corridor.
He said improved transportation networks would also strengthen the ability of communities to access markets, services and economic opportunities.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Commissioner for Information, Yakubu Ahmed Birnin-Kebbi, said the delegation visited Abuja to brief the minister on the achievements of the state government and strengthen its relationship with the Federal Government.
He said the state had significant potential in agriculture, infrastructure and other sectors and was seeking to leverage federal support to accelerate development.
“We are here to tell the story of Kebbi State and to show the progress being made. With the support of the Federal Government, Kebbi has enormous potential for agriculture, infrastructure and economic development,” he said.
The commissioner highlighted progress recorded by the state in agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure and security.
He said the state government remained committed to collaborating with the Federal Government to unlock Kebbi’s economic potential and improve the welfare of its people.
The Information Minister assured the delegation that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation would continue to communicate government development initiatives to Nigerians and highlight opportunities arising from public investments.
He said effective communication remained important in ensuring that citizens understood government programmes and were able to take advantage of opportunities created through infrastructure and economic development initiatives.
The engagement therefore provided an avenue for both the Federal and Kebbi State governments to highlight the link between infrastructure, agriculture, economic development and public communication.
