Sani orders completion of Western Bypass road
•Sets up task force on fatal accidents Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has ordered the completion of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Western Bypass, describing the delays on the project as unacceptable
•Sets up task force on fatal accidents
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has ordered the completion of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Western Bypass, describing the delays on the project as unacceptable amid recurring fatal accidents along the corridor.
The directive followed an emergency stakeholders’ meeting convened at the instance of the governor over rising crashes on the 21.5-kilometre expressway stretching from Command Junction through the bypass to Mando Roundabout.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, said the governor was disturbed by the loss of lives on the highway and had directed urgent action to halt the tragedies.
Maiyaki said no level of progress on the project could justify the continued loss of lives, stressing that the government would no longer tolerate delays capable of endangering road users.
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The meeting drew key stakeholders, including officials of the Federal Ministry of Works, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Authority (KASTELEA), the main contractor, Dangote Industries, subcontractors Tata and Sao, as well as transport unions such as NARTO, NURTW and ACCOMORAN.
The commissioner noted that although the road contract was awarded in 2021 before the current administration came on board, progress had remained slow until Governor Sani’s intervention.
According to him, the governor’s engagement with relevant authorities and contractors had improved the pace of work, but said the administration now considers timely completion non-negotiable.
He said updates from the Federal Controller of Highways and contractors indicated that about 19 kilometres of the project had been completed.
Although the official delivery date for the project is in December, Maiyaki said the governor had directed that the road be delivered ahead of schedule.
He said the governor made it clear that no further delay would be tolerated, given the increasing safety concerns on the highway.
To enforce compliance and improve safety, the state government has constituted a multi-agency task force to monitor construction progress and enforce safety measures, especially during the rainy season.
The task force, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Works, comprises the FRSC, KASTELEA, officials of the Federal Ministry of Works, contractors, community representatives, traditional leaders and transport unions.
Maiyaki said the Ministry of Information had also been directed to spearhead aggressive public sensitisation and behavioural change campaigns to curb unsafe road practices.
He noted that dangerous road use had contributed significantly to the accidents, adding that several high-risk crossing points had already been identified for urgent intervention.
According to him, government is engaging communities and road users to ensure compliance with safety regulations and reduce reckless practices blamed for the crashes.
Maiyaki added that the administration was committed to ensuring the road meets international safety standards, both in construction and usage.
The government’s intervention followed mounting concerns from community leaders and youth groups, who had described the situation along the bypass as a major public safety emergency with social and economic implications.
He said with the new directive and enforcement mechanism in place, the government was determined to restore safety, fast-track delivery of the project and ensure the bypass serves its purpose without further loss of lives.
