Kaduna road projects: NANS President highlights benefits to students, farmers

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has highlighted the benefits of ongoing road projects by the Kaduna state government to students, farmers and other residents across the state.

President (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, who spoke during an inspection tour of some government projects in Kaduna, including the Kabala Costain-Aliyu Makama link road, as part of activities by the NANS leadership ahead of its extraordinary Senate meeting in the state.

He said improved road infrastructure would enhance access to schools, farms, markets and healthcare facilities, while reducing transportation difficulties faced by residents.

The NANS president described the Kabala Costain-Aliyu Makama Link Road as an important alternative route linking communities and easing movement between parts of northern and southern Kaduna.

According to him, the completion of the road would particularly benefit students by making movement to and from educational institutions easier and safer.

He also noted that farmers would benefit from improved access to their farms and markets, making it easier to transport agricultural produce and reducing challenges associated with poor road networks.

Afeez said he was impressed that the Kabala Costain-Aliyu Makama Link Road was a new project and expressed optimism that it would be completed and handed over soon.

The NANS leadership was led on the inspection by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki; Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma K. Ahmed; Managing Director of the Kaduna State Roads Agency (KADRA), Dr Abdullahi Baba Ahmed; and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, Hon. Mock Samuel Kure.

Others on the inspection were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Student Affairs, Yusuf Lawal, and Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Bello Hayatu.

Speaking on the state’s road projects, the KADRA managing director said the administration had initiated 116 new road projects covering about 1,400 kilometres across the 23 local government areas of the state.

Ahmed said between 80 and 90 per cent of the projects had been completed, while the remaining projects were at various stages of completion.

He said 12 local government areas had not benefited from road construction for more than 12 years before the present administration, adding that the government had undertaken road projects across all 23 LGAs within three years of assuming office.

The KADRA boss identified the 35-kilometre Gadan Gayan-Guraji-Kujama Road as one of the flagship projects, noting that it included a major bridge of about 120 metres across River Kaduna.

He also said the state government had completed internal road networks at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as well as an access road to the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia.

Afeez said improved access roads to tertiary institutions would facilitate students’ movement and contribute to safer journeys to campuses.

He also commended the state government’s investments in education, transportation, healthcare and sports, noting that such interventions directly affected the welfare and future of young people.

On sports, the NANS president commended the ongoing rehabilitation of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, saying the facility could provide opportunities for youths with sporting talents.

He noted that the rehabilitation includes a football pitch, gymnasium and swimming pool, with completion expected in November.

Afeez urged the state government to sustain its infrastructure programme and continue responding to the needs of residents.

He also called on Kaduna youths to support development projects that would improve their welfare and future, stressing that infrastructure could only deliver its intended benefits if properly maintained and protected.

The NANS president said the association would compile its observations from the inspection and present its report to the Kaduna State Government.

He explained that the assessment was part of efforts to enable student leaders to observe infrastructure projects firsthand and make informed recommendations to government.

Afeez said NANS would continue to engage with governments and advocate for projects that directly improve students’ education, mobility and welfare.