President Bola Tinubu has requested Senate approval for a $516.3 million foreign syndicated loan to fund key sections of the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway, a cornerstone of his Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Thursday's plenary, Tinubu invoked Sections 16 and 21 of the Debt Management Office Act, 2011, to secure financing via Deutsche Bank AG for Sections 1, Phase 1A, and 1B. The 1,000-kilometre project will span Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states, linking Illela to Badagry and boosting trade, connectivity, and goods movement.
The nine-year loan, with a three-year grace period and interest at SOFR plus 5.3 per cent, includes a partial risk guarantee from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC). The Federal Government will provide over ₦265 billion in counterpart funding for land acquisition and infrastructure.
Akpabio referred the request to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts for a one-week turnaround report. He endorsed the borrowing, stating it advances road safety and national integration.
The highway aims to cut travel times and stimulate economic corridors, with the Federal Executive Council already approving the plan.
