Compensation disputes stall completion of Katsina–Kano highway

The completion of the Katsina–Kano dual carriageway has been delayed due to unresolved compensation issues affecting communities along the project corridor, according to Abdullahi Yakasai, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement, North-West.

Yakasai disclosed this on Friday during an inspection of ongoing federal road projects in Katsina State under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Speaking at Section Two of the project, he said the 157-kilometre dual carriageway, being constructed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), has reached about 27 per cent completion, but progress has been slowed by compensation-related encumbrances.

He commended the contractor for the quality of work and the deployment of heavy equipment, noting that the release of funds by President Tinubu had boosted confidence in the project’s eventual completion once outstanding issues are resolved.

According to Yakasai, discussions are ongoing between the Federal Government, the Ministry of Works and the Katsina State Government to resolve the compensation challenges, particularly as the project commenced before the current administration.

“With the intervention of Mr President through the release of funds, we believe this project will move swiftly to completion,” he said. “The only major challenge is compensation. Since the project started before this administration, we expect the Honourable Minister of Works to engage the state government to resolve the issue amicably.”

He described the Katsina–Kano road as economically critical, noting that it serves as a major link between Katsina State and Kano, Nigeria’s commercial hub, with wider benefits for the entire North-West region. However, he said a definite completion date could not be given until the compensation issue is settled.

Also speaking, the Federal Controller of Works in Katsina State, Engr. Idris Mohammad, provided details of the project, noting that the dualisation of the Kano–Katsina Road (Section II) spans 157.10 kilometres and has a revised contract sum of N94.15 billion, with a revised completion date of August 21, 2027.

He explained that the scope of work includes the construction of an additional carriageway, rehabilitation of the existing road, asphaltic concrete pavement, and the construction of five bridges. He added that contract progress currently stands at 27.04 per cent.

Engr. Mohammad stressed the need for the Katsina State Government to address compensation for economic trees and structures along the route to enable the contractor to connect towns and villages along the corridor.

He also clarified concerns by residents of Mararaban Kankara, explaining that what was previously commissioned was a 2.4-kilometre emergency intervention, not the entire road. He said the full rehabilitation project has been captured in the 2026 budget proposal.

Both Yakasai and Mohammad expressed optimism that once compensation issues are resolved, construction on the Katsina–Kano highway will proceed smoothly to completion.