The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has said that the infrastructural projects being executed by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration will win votes for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda described the projects as an “unbeatable campaign asset” for the APC, saying Nigerians would be able to assess the government through projects delivered on the ground.
He stated this on Saturday when he inspected the ongoing construction of the Akwanga, Jos and Gombe section of the Trans-Sahara Superhighway.
The Federal Ministry of Works had earlier described the Akwanga-Jos section as a 125-kilometre stretch of the larger Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri superhighway and said the project was designed to improve connectivity, security and economic activity across the country.
Speaking with journalists during the inspection, Yilwatda emphasised the importance of the new construction, stating, “We are targeting a lifespan of over 100 years before there will be a need to consider maintaining or repairing it again. That is how you build a lasting legacy.
“The road is part of a larger initiative that spans from Calabar through states such as Ebonyi, Enugu, Benue, and Abuja, eventually reaching Jos. The Trans-Sahara Superhighway aims to connect various regions, covering over 1,400 kilometres and linking the South-South, South-East, North-Central, and North-East geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
“It is living proof of what the Renewed Hope agenda stands for, and it is precisely why Nigerians will continue to stand firmly behind President Tinubu,” he said.
The APC chieftain noted that the construction marks a significant advancement in infrastructure, stating, “This is one of the most significant impacts any government has made on the people in these communities. Today, under the Leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we have a project with hundreds of billions of naira committed to it.”
The National APC Chairman said the Akwanga-Jos road project will incorporate 24-hour intelligent surveillance cameras, continuous lighting, dedicated police outposts and emergency trauma clinics as part of measures to strengthen security along the strategic corridor, among others.
He added, “Beyond just improving transportation, the Akwanga-Jos road project is designed to enhance security and community welfare. The road will feature traffic lights, surveillance cameras, police stations and clinics, all strategically placed along the route to improve safety and healthcare access. This is not just a road; this is connecting communities. This is connecting customers, connecting markets, connecting people, improving security.”
Yilwatda said the Akwanga-Jos corridor, which forms part of the larger superhighway linking major cities in the North, had suffered decades of inadequate attention before the present administration commenced its reconstruction.
He stated that “for over five decades, since the days of the late Joseph Gomwalk around 1972, this corridor witnessed only piecemeal patching.
“Communities along the Nasarawa-Plateau axis rarely saw federal capital projects running into even N10 billion. Today, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has committed hundreds of billions of naira to build an infrastructure asset designed to endure for over a century.”
Briefing the APC chairman during the inspection, the project’s Equipment Coordinator and Public Relations Officer, James Baba, said heavy construction equipment had been mobilised to the Jos axis following directives from the Federal Ministry of Works.
Baba said the contractor was working to complete at least 10km of road formation before Christmas, while another 30km was expected to be delivered in 2027.
While providing an update on the construction progress, he highlighted that the test running of the rigid pavement has commenced, with approximately 400 metres already completed.
“Our target this year is to cover about 10 kilometres of earthwork before Christmas,” Baba stated.
He expressed optimism about meeting these goals, assuring that the project will adhere to the highest standards of quality, adding that the decision to use cement concrete instead of asphalt was based on specifications from the Federal Ministry of Works, aimed at ensuring the road’s durability.