The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, for the scale, quality, and pace of ongoing Federal Government road projects. This commendation comes after NANS completed the Northwest leg of its nationwide road project tour, inspecting Federal Government road projects across Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Sokoto states. NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, presented the report to the Minister, highlighting the significance of the projects to educational institutions and surrounding communities.
The NANS nationwide road project tour aimed to enable students to physically assess road projects and examine their relevance to educational institutions and surrounding communities. The delegation inspected several major roads, including the Kano-Kwanar Danja-Hadejia Road, Kano Northern Bypass, Kano-Maiduguri Road, and Kaduna-Kano Road. These projects were found to be strategically important, connecting several tertiary institutions across the Northwest and providing alternative routes for students and commuters.
NANS highlighted the importance of specific roads, such as the Kano-Maiduguri Road, which passes through Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil. The Kano-Kwanar Danja-Hadejia and Kano-Kongolam roads provide access to institutions in and around Jigawa State. The association also drew attention to the ongoing reconstruction of the 122.89-kilometre Mando-Birnin Gwari Federal Highway in Kaduna State, describing it as strategically important for inter-state connectivity.
The association made a specific recommendation concerning the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano route, suggesting the provision of a pedestrian bridge at the Federal Co-operative College, Kaduna State. This recommendation was made with the safety of students in mind, following an inspection of the project. NANS also commended the engineering standards observed on the projects, citing pavement structures, road layers, earthworks, drainage, subgrade preparation, and solar street lights incorporated into completed projects.
NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, expressed satisfaction with the scale of the projects, their strategic distribution, construction quality, and pace of execution. He noted that the projects were opening up communities, connecting cities and states, and improving access to educational institutions. The association commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for entrusting Umahi with the Works Ministry and for investing heavily in infrastructure development.
The Northwest leg of the tour covered Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Sokoto states, with further inspections expected in other parts of the country. NANS plans to continue the exercise, informing students and the wider public about Federal Government infrastructure projects based on its members' personal observations during the tour. The report was signed by Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, President of NANS.
The commendation from NANS underscores the positive impact of the road projects on educational institutions and surrounding communities. The association's recommendation for a pedestrian bridge in Kaduna highlights its commitment to ensuring students' safety. As NANS continues its nationwide tour, it is expected to provide further insights into the progress and impact of Federal Government infrastructure projects across the country.
Key points
- NANS commends Umahi for the scale, quality, and pace of ongoing Federal Government road projects.
- The association recommends a pedestrian bridge at the Federal Co-operative College, Kaduna State, for students' safety.
- NANS will continue its nationwide tour, inspecting and reporting on Federal Government infrastructure projects.
