Nigeria has implemented the 137 km stretch from Zaria to Kano, in the north of the country. This section is intended to facilitate the transport of goods and improve road safety, while work continues on the connection between Abuja and Kaduna.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu inaugurated on 21 October 2026 the third section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano motorway, covering the link between Zaria and Kano.
He was represented at the ceremony by the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf. This section is 137 km long and is part of a 375 km reconstruction project to improve traffic conditions on one of the main roads in northern Nigeria.
The commissioning must reduce the risks of road degradation and help to reduce accidents. The axis is borrowed daily by travellers, traders, carriers and drivers of commercial vehicles.
In particular, it provides trade between Kano, a major commercial and industrial centre, Kaduna and other States in the region. Road improvements should also facilitate the movement of agricultural products, manufactured goods and other goods, while reducing transport times and vehicle operating costs.
Assigned in 2017 and launched in 2018, the reconstruction programme was divided into three sections. The 73.4 km section of Kaduna-Zaria is completed, as is the Zaria-Kano section. However, work continues on the Abuja-Kaduna link, which extends 165 km.
The whole route is not yet fully rebuilt. The construction site, entrusted to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has experienced delays in financing issues, security and technical adjustments.
At the inauguration, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf called for continued investment in road infrastructure and better coordination between federal and state authorities.
The Kano government also called on motorists to respect speed limits and traffic rules. The quality of maintenance and safety will continue to be key to maintaining the expected gains in mobility and freight transport.
