Nigeria’s House of Representatives has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to secure an external loan of $516.3 million for a major infrastructure project.
The approval was given during Tuesday’s plenary session in Abuja after lawmakers considered a report from the Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management.
The funds will be used to support construction works on the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, a major road project designed to connect the northern and southwestern regions of the country.
The proposed highway is expected to pass through several states, improving transport links, easing movement of goods, and boosting economic activity along its corridor. It forms part of the Federal Government’s wider infrastructure development agenda.
The loan arrangement is expected to be facilitated through international financing channels, with Deutsche Bank AG reportedly involved in structuring the facility.
Lawmakers who supported the request said the project was critical for national development, particularly in improving road connectivity and economic integration across regions.
However, the approval is likely to intensify ongoing public debate over Nigeria’s growing debt burden and the government’s continued reliance on external borrowing to fund large-scale projects.
Critics of rising government debt have repeatedly called for stronger fiscal discipline and more transparency in project execution to ensure borrowed funds deliver measurable national benefits.
Supporters of the project, on the other hand, argue that infrastructure investment remains essential for long-term economic growth, job creation, and improved trade flow across the country.
With the approval now secured from the House of Representatives, the Federal Government is expected to move forward with final arrangements to access the funding and accelerate implementation of the highway projects.
