The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has concluded the Northwest leg of its nationwide Federal Roads Project Tour, offering high praise to President Bola Tinubu and Minister of Works Engr. David Umahi for the pace and quality of road infrastructure development in the region. The tour, which covered Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Sokoto States, was designed to physically inspect federal road projects and assess their direct impact on student welfare and access to education.
NANS President Comrade Babatunde Akinteye disclosed the findings during a press conference, emphasizing that road infrastructure is intrinsically linked to student safety, mobility, and the ability to reach academic institutions. He noted that the association’s objective was to examine how these projects serve as critical access routes for campuses and student communities across the Northwest.
Key Infrastructure Inspections
In Kano State, the NANS team inspected several major routes, including the Kano-Kwanar Danja-Hadejia Road, the Kano Northern Bypass, and the Kano-Maiduguri Road, which links five states. Akinteye highlighted the significance of the Kano Northern Bypass, noting it connects 10 institutions and provides an alternative route for commuters. The Kano-Maiduguri Road was also cited for providing access to the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology in Wudil, while the Kaduna-Kano Road serves the Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education.
Inspections in Jigawa State focused on the Kano-Kwanar Danja-Hadejia Road and the Kano-Kongolam Road, both of which provide access to the Federal University Dutse and the Jigawa State Polytechnic. In Kaduna State, the team reviewed the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Road, among others. Akinteye pointed out that the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano route is a vital link between the FCT and the Northwest, serving institutions such as the Federal Co-operative College.
The tour extended to Sokoto State, where the association inspected the Sokoto-Badagry Road and the Illela-Dukamaje Road. Akinteye stated that the observations made during the tour reinforced the view that roads leading to campuses are a fundamental part of education infrastructure. “Students do not exist only within the four walls of their classrooms. We commute every day. We travel to lecture theatres, examination halls, and for other academic activities,” he said.
Commending the Federal Government for its investment in infrastructure, Akinteye lauded Minister Umahi for his foresight in identifying critical transportation needs. “From what we have seen on the ground, the quality of construction, the vision behind several of these projects and the speed at which work is progressing are worthy of commendation,” he stated. The NANS President urged the government to sustain this momentum to ensure projects are completed to required standards, adding that the association will proceed with the next stages of the tour in other regions. “Our position is simple: when you improve the road to our campuses, you improve the journey to education,” he concluded.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
