Sokoto–Badagry highway: Army gets 10 Hilux vehicles to boost security

….State support critical to protecting workers, equipment, infrastructure project, Goronyo says

By Onu Okorie

Nigerian Army has received 10 operational Toyota Hilux vehicles from the Sokoto State Government to strengthen security operations along the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, as authorities intensify efforts to protect construction activities and strategic infrastructure along the corridor.
The vehicles were formally commissioned and handed over to the Army at the Headquarters of the 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Sokoto, on Thursday, October 8, 2026, by the Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., who represented the Minister of Works, Engr. David Nweze Umahi.
Goronyo commended the Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, for the donation, describing it as a demonstration of the state government’s support for infrastructure development and the security arrangements required to deliver major federal projects.
The intervention is expected to improve troop mobility and response capabilities along the highway corridor, particularly in Sokoto and Kebbi states, where security personnel are responsible for protecting construction workers, contractors, equipment and host communities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Goronyo stressed that security remained a critical factor in the successful execution of the superhighway, noting that effective collaboration between federal and state authorities, the military and other security agencies was necessary to ensure the project progressed safely.
He said the donation aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which includes major infrastructure projects intended to improve national connectivity and stimulate economic activity.
The minister described the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway as a long-standing national infrastructure aspiration dating back to the era of former President Shehu Shagari in the 1970s. According to him, construction of the 1,068-kilometre highway commenced in October 2024 under the Tinubu administration.
When completed, the road is expected to traverse Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states, providing an important transport link between northern and southern Nigeria.
Goronyo said the highway was designed to facilitate the movement of people and goods, reduce transportation costs, improve access to markets and essential services, and create economic opportunities for communities along its route.
He added that the project would support agricultural production, commerce and industrial activities while improving access to schools, healthcare facilities and other public services.
The minister also identified several other strategic road projects being undertaken by the Federal Government, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, the Calabar–Abuja/Trans-Saharan corridor, the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe corridor, the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano route and the Zaria–Gusau–Sokoto corridor.
According to him, the projects form part of efforts to develop an integrated road network capable of strengthening inter-state connections and supporting economic growth.
On the construction specifications, Goronyo said the use of continuously reinforced concrete pavement on the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway was intended to provide a durable road infrastructure with a long service life.
He noted that environmental and safety provisions, including tree planting and solar-powered street lighting where included in the project design, would complement the infrastructure investment.
The minister also commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their efforts in protecting lives, property and critical national infrastructure.
He expressed condolences to the military over the reported loss of personnel in a bandit attack while on official duty the previous day, extending his sympathy to the affected colleagues and bereaved families.
Goronyo further acknowledged the support of the National Security Adviser in coordinating efforts to address security challenges associated with the project.
In his remarks, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Bengba Paul Koughna, thanked the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Works and the Sokoto State Government for providing the vehicles.
Koughna said the Hilux vehicles would strengthen the operational mobility of troops deployed along the highway, particularly across the approximately 440-kilometre section running through Sokoto and Kebbi states.
He explained that troops conducted regular patrols and maintained multiple deployment points along the route, making the additional vehicles an important resource for supporting their operations.
The GOC assured the minister that the vehicles would be deployed appropriately to support security activities and protect construction workers, contractors, equipment and other stakeholders involved in the project.
He also commended retired General Sa’ad Abubakar, representing Hitech Construction Company, for the company’s involvement in the highway project.
The ceremony was attended by retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Aliyu Garba, officials of the Federal Ministry of Works, representatives of the Sokoto State Government and other stakeholders.
The donation highlights the role of intergovernmental cooperation in addressing security challenges associated with major infrastructure projects, with the effectiveness of the intervention expected to depend on how the additional vehicles are deployed to support patrols and protect personnel working along the corridor.