The Sokoto State Government has donated 10 Toyota Hilux operational vehicles to the Nigerian Army to boost security operations along the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway corridor.
The vehicles were formally commissioned and handed over on Thursday at the Headquarters of the 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Sokoto. The handover was performed by the Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, on behalf of the Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi.
Goronyo said the donation was made by Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto to support military personnel deployed to protect construction workers, contractors, equipment and host communities along the highway corridor.
He described the gesture as evidence of the state government’s support for national infrastructure development and the implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This very important arterial road corridor is a stretch of about 1,068 kilometres and is going to criss-cross Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states. It is going to link to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a span of about 750 kilometres, and it will link to the Trans-Saharan route which will begin from Esso in Calabar all the way to Benue and other corridors to Akwanga, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe and beyond,” Goronyo said.
Goronyo noted that the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway was conceived decades ago dating back to the era of former President Shehu Shagari in the 1970s but remained unrealised until the Tinubu administration initiated construction of the 1,068-kilometre highway in October 2024.
He said the superhighway is a deliberate attempt to ensure Nigeria’s infrastructure is built for prosperity, as it will be constructed on continuously reinforced concrete that will outlive the present generation by 50 years or more.
According to him, the project will connect communities across northern and southern Nigeria, improve transportation, expand economic opportunities, strengthen national integration, reduce transportation costs, stimulate trade and create employment opportunities.
He said the donation is expected to improve the mobility and operational effectiveness of security personnel and will add to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, provide safer travel and facilitate the evacuation of agricultural produce.
Goronyo commended Governor Aliyu for the timely intervention and for demonstrating true partnership with the Federal Government in delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Responding, the General Officer Commanding, 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Bemgha Paul Koughna, who represented the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, appreciated the state government for the gesture.
Koughna said troops maintain regular patrols and multiple deployment points along the route, adding that the vehicles will enhance their ability to respond to security threats.
He assured that the vehicles would be deployed to protect construction workers, contractors and other stakeholders involved in the project.
