BY JULIET EKWENUGO, Kaduna
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, has commended the Kaduna State Government for its road infrastructure projects across the state, urging youths to support development initiatives that improve their welfare.
Afeez spoke during an inspection of government projects in Kaduna, including the Kabala-Costain-Aliyu Makama Link Road, by NANS leaders who were in the state for an extraordinary Senate meeting.
He said the road was an important link between northern and southern Kaduna, providing an alternative route for residents and improving access to farms, schools and healthcare facilities.
According to him, improved road infrastructure would ease transportation challenges and reduce travel-related difficulties for residents.
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 Kaduna State 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.
Also on the inspection were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Student Affairs, Yusuf Lawal, and Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Bello Hayatu.
Baba Ahmed said the Kaduna State Government had initiated 116 new road projects covering about 1,400 kilometres across the state.
He said between 80 and 90 per cent of the projects had been completed, while the remaining projects were at various stages of completion.
The KADRA managing director said the projects covered all 23 local government areas of the state, adding that 12 LGAs had not benefited from road construction for more than 12 years.
He identified the 35-kilometre Gadan Gayan-Guraji-Kujama road as one of the flagship projects of the administration, noting that it included a major bridge spanning about 120 metres across River Kaduna.
Baba Ahmed 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 added that better roads would support agriculture by improving access to farms and markets and facilitating the movement of farm produce.
The NANS president also commended the state government’s investments in education, transportation, healthcare and sports.
He said the ongoing rehabilitation of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, which includes a football pitch, gymnasium and swimming pool, could provide opportunities for young people with sporting talents.
According to him, completion of the stadium project was expected in November.
Afeez urged the Kaduna Government to sustain its infrastructure programme and continue to respond to the needs of residents.
He also called on Kaduna youths to support projects that promote their welfare and future development, warning that infrastructure could be undermined if projects were abandoned.
The NANS president said the association would compile observations from the inspection and present its report to the Kaduna State Government after the exercise.
He said the assessment was part of efforts to enable student leaders to observe infrastructure projects and make informed recommendations.
Afeez added that NANS leaders from various structures participated in the exercise ahead of their national Senate sitting in Kaduna.
He urged stakeholders to continue engaging constructively on development issues, saying students would continue to demand projects that improve education, mobility and their general welfare.
