…ADC questioned the cost structure and financing conditions surrounding the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway Loan.
Abuja, Nigeria — The iNews Times reports that the proposed Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway Loan has ignited fresh political controversy, as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Legislators’ Forum condemned President Bola Tinubu’s request for Senate approval of an additional $516.3 million external loan for the ambitious infrastructure project.
The Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway Loan, according to the presidency, is intended to finance key sections of the 1,000-kilometre corridor linking Nigeria’s North-West to the South-West under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. However, opposition lawmakers have described the borrowing move as reckless and economically dangerous.
President Bola Tinubu formally transmitted the loan request to the National Assembly in a letter read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The request seeks legislative authorisation in line with Sections 16 and 21 of the Debt Management Office (Establishment) Act, 2011, and includes the approval of a syndicated loan facility amounting to $516,333,070.
While the presidency maintains that the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway Loan is crucial for economic connectivity and national integration, the ADC Legislators’ Forum insists that the broader implications of Nigeria’s mounting debt burden cannot be ignored.
In a statement jointly signed by its chairman, Hon. Uko Ndukwe Nkole, alongside leaders from the six geopolitical zones, the ADC lawmakers described the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway Loan as “alarming” and symptomatic of what they called a pattern of reckless borrowing.
According to the forum, the Tinubu administration has failed to present a convincing, transparent, and economically viable repayment strategy to justify what it termed an “endless appetite” for loans.
“Nigeria is already weighed down by a crushing debt burden, with debt servicing swallowing a staggering proportion of national revenue,” the statement read.
Economic analysts note that Nigeria’s rising debt service-to-revenue ratio has become a central concern in recent years, as a significant share of federal earnings is allocated to servicing both domestic and external obligations.
The ADC lawmakers argued that approving the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway Loan without full scrutiny could further tighten fiscal pressures and weaken Nigeria’s economic sovereignty.
While the forum acknowledged the importance of infrastructure development, it questioned the cost structure and financing conditions surrounding the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway Loan.
“No responsible opposition undermines infrastructure development,” the statement clarified. “However, borrowing must be anchored on sustainability, accountability, and measurable economic returns.”
The lawmakers insisted that prudent fiscal management, innovation, and domestic resource mobilisation should take precedence over what they described as debt dependency.
They warned that each new borrowing decision carries long-term consequences, particularly for future generations who will shoulder repayment obligations.
Another dimension of the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway Loan controversy is its timing.
With Nigeria gradually approaching another major election cycle, the ADC forum urged Nigerians to scrutinize the motives behind large-scale financial commitments made at such a critical political moment.
“Is this truly about development, or is it another attempt to create avenues for political patronage and electoral advantage?” the statement queried.
Historically, infrastructure projects have often been central campaign talking points, and opposition figures argue that transparency is crucial to prevent politicization of public funds.
The ADC Legislators’ Forum called on the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, to exercise its constitutional oversight responsibilities independently.
It warned against acting as a rubber stamp for the executive arm, stressing that the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway Loan must undergo thorough scrutiny.
The lawmakers demanded; Full disclosure of financial terms, Detailed procurement processes, Comprehensive cost-benefit analysis, A credible and transparent repayment plan.
They argued that failure to demand these safeguards would amount to a betrayal of public trust.
The ADC urged the administration to focus on strengthening productivity, boosting industrial growth, creating jobs, and plugging revenue leakages instead of deepening reliance on foreign loans.
“We can either choose the path of responsibility, discipline, and sustainable growth, or continue down this perilous road of debt dependency and economic vulnerability,” the statement concluded.
Economic experts have consistently stressed that infrastructure financing must be tied to revenue-generating mechanisms capable of supporting debt repayment without worsening fiscal deficits.
The Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway Loan request has been referred to the appropriate Senate committee for review. The committee is expected to examine the proposal and present its findings before the full chamber deliberates on approval.
As debate intensifies, Nigerians across political and economic divides are watching closely to see whether lawmakers will prioritize long-term fiscal sustainability or accelerate the infrastructure agenda through additional borrowing.
The iNews Times will continue to monitor developments surrounding the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway Loan, providing in-depth analysis and updates as the Senate considers its next move.
