The completion of the Katsina-Kano dual carriageway has been delayed due to unresolved compensation issues, according to Abdullahi Yakasai, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement in the North-West, during an inspection of road projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda in Katsina State on Friday.
Speaking during a visit to section two of the road project, Yakasai pointed out that the 157-kilometre dual carriageway executed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has so far completed about 27 per cent, but progress has slowed due to constraints related to compensation for affected communities.
He commended the contractor for the quality of work and the deployment of heavy equipment at the site, noting that Bola Tinubu's funding intervention has boosted confidence that the project will be completed once outstanding issues are resolved.
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According to him, discussions are ongoing between the Federal Government, the Ministry of Works and the Katsina State Government to find a common ground on compensation, especially as the project started before the present administration.
Yakasai said, “Continuing our inspection of federal projects here in Katsina State, we are now on the Katsina-Kano dual carriageway, section two, heading towards Kano. We have inspected the quality of the work with engineers from the Nigerian Society of Engineers and relevant regulators, and we are satisfied with what we have seen.
“With the intervention of Mr. President through the release of funds, we are confident that this project will be completed rapidly. The only challenge we have seen is the issue of compensation.
“Normally, compensation is paid by the Federal Government, but recently there has been a change where states are also expected to play a role. Since this project started before the Tinubu administration, we believe that the Honorable Minister of Works, David Umahi, will engage with the state government so that the matter can be resolved amicably.”
The aide stressed the economic importance of the Katsina-Kano road, describing it as a vital link between Katsina State and Kano, Nigeria's major commercial centre, with wide-ranging benefits for other North-West states.
“The importance of this road cannot be overemphasized. Kano is the center of commerce, and this corridor will boost economic activities in Katsina and the entire North-West,” he said.
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Responding to questions on the completion timeline, the aide said it is difficult to give an exact date due to the challenge of compensation. “At present we cannot give the exact time of completion as compensation is the only hurdle delaying the project,” he said.
Also speaking, the Controller of Federal Works, Katsina State, Engr. Idris Mohammed highlighted other projects including the doubling of the Kano-Katsina Road (Vol. II: Kano, “State Border – Katsina Steel Rolling Mill Roundabout) Budget Provision (2025) of N75,000,000,000.00 by the Federal Ministry of Works, Department of Highways Works and Rehabilitation North-East Region, Katsina State Area Office.
Original contract amount N29, 654,245,483.79
Revised contract amount N94, 155,498,940.37, Project length, (78.55 x 2) = 157.10 km.
Start date, July 13, 2020
Early closing date, July 12, 2023
Revised closing date: August 21, 2027
Contract period: 85 months
Overall progress: 27.04%
“Completion of contract period: 76.34% and the scope of works includes construction of additional carriageway and rehabilitation of existing including asphalt concrete pavement of 60 mm binder course, 40 mm wearing course and construction of 5 bridges. The cross section of the road is four lanes, 2 expressway. One lane is 11.55 m, consisting of 7.3 m carriageway, 2.75 m outer shoulder and inner shoulder. 1.5m inner shoulder.
“The emergency repair of critical washouts on culverts (Km.1+7775 and Km.2+736) along the Katsina-Dutsinma-Kankara Road in Katsina cost a total of N549,980,203.26 as the project description includes restoration of critical washouts and repair of deteriorated stretches. Furthermore, the original contract handled N1, along the Katsina-Daura Road in Katsina State A sum of Rs 275,800,000.00, project length 1.4 km, started on February 20, 2024 and completed on May 19, 2024.
“The scope of works includes emergency repairs along 1.4 km length of the road and includes provision of stone pitching, curb and slope, provision of asphalt wear course, provision of reinforced concrete retaining wall, provision of pothole patching.
The Works Controller also said that the state government needs to settle compensation for economic trees and structures along the carriageway, so that the contractor can connect towns and villages along the project corridor. “However, despite the above shortcomings the contractor has achieved significant achievements in the month under review”.
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He clarified the concerns raised by residents of Mararaban Kankara, in which a longer section of the road was expected to be completed, adding that, “What was started earlier was an emergency intervention of 2.4 kilometres, not the entire 160 kilometres. The entire length is a total rehabilitation project, and this is already included in the 2026 budget proposal submitted to the Minister”, he said.
Across Nigeria, about 260 emergency intervention projects were implemented to repair failed sections. The Katsina-Kano road benefited from this initiative, but full rehabilitation is a different process.
Both officials expressed confidence that once the compensation issues are resolved, the construction will be completed smoothly.
