Abuja-Kaduna Highway Hits 80% Mark as Construction Crews Work Day and Night to Meet Concrete Road Deadline

Commuters who have spent years navigating the “death traps” and security risks of the Abuja–Kaduna expressway finally have a reason to breathe easy. The Federal Ministry of Works announced on Tuesday, March 3, that the reconstruction of the strategic highway has reached 80% completion, with a final “ribbon-cutting” date set for the end of April 2026.

The project, which had been stalled for nearly a decade under various administrations, found a new “State of Harmony” after the Tinubu administration made the bold move to terminate the contract of the previous handler, Julius Berger, and hand the reins to Infouest Nigeria Limited. Since the takeover, the pace of work has shifted into high gear, with 60 kilometers of the redesigned concrete road already laid and ready for use.

Chukwuma Kalu, the Controller of Works for the project, confirmed during a national media tour that the “heartbeat of the nation” is finally being restored. “We are no longer using asphalt that washes away with the first rain,” Kalu explained. “We have moved to Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement. It is more expensive upfront, but it is built to last for a century. We are now in the final stretch, with only about 21 kilometers of the primary section left to pour.”

The push to meet the April deadline has seen construction teams adopting a 24-hour work cycle. Beyond the convenience of travel, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, noted that the completion of the road is a critical pillar of the government’s plan to crash food inflation. By providing a smooth, high-speed link between Northern farms and the Federal Capital Territory, the government expects the cost of transporting perishables to drop significantly by the second quarter of 2026.

As the concrete cures and the final lanes are painted, the once-dreaded highway is transforming into a symbol of the “Renewed Hope” infrastructure drive. For millions of Nigerians who rely on this artery for commerce and survival, the end of April cannot come soon enough.