March 28, (THEWILL) – The Kano State Government has launched an ambitious urban renewal project to improve transportation in the state.
The state Commissioner of Works, Marwan Ahmad, who disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Kano on Friday, said the project included six major roads currently under rehabilitation.
“These projects have already commenced, with contractors actively working on Murtala Muhammad Way, Club Road, and Muhammadu Buhari Way. Asphalt overlay has begun, and drainage works are also in progress”, Ahmad said.
Other roads under the urban renewal project, he said, included those near the Government House, which have recorded significant progress, with milling and excavation of drainage systems nearing completion.
“These projects have a strict completion timeline of three months, and we are confident that the first batch of six roads will be delivered within the time frame.
“Additionally, we have identified seven more roads for rehabilitation, which will soon be rolled out”, he added.
Beyond the urban renewal initiative, the commissioner further revealed that several relief roads across the state are nearing completion, with many set to be launched for use within two to three months.
He also confirmed the completion of 5-kilometre road projects across local government areas of Albasu, Gezawa, Tofa, Dawakin Tofa, and Dambatta, all of which he said had been equipped with solar-powered streetlights.
“Currently, an additional six local governments including Shanono, Ghari and Kabo are receiving similar projects, which are nearing completion.
“These are part of the state’s broader initiative to improve road networks across the metropolitan and rural areas”, he said.
Ahmad further noted that the metropolitan solar street light project Phase One and Phase Two had been completed and that preparations are underway for the execution of Phase Three of the project to enhance the lighting of more roads in Kano City.
On the State Government’s road expansion projects in parts of the state, the commissioner clarified that some long-pending projects, whose contract was initially awarded over 12 years ago, had been revalidated for completion.
“We have also received information that the Federal Government has awarded some of these roads, which were initially under the state’s control.
“We are currently working to reconcile these developments to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure efficient use of resources,” he said.
Ahmad then disclosed that substantial progress had been recorded at the Dan Agundi flyover bridge.
According to him, most of the pier views on the bridge had been completed, and the next step was launching the beams, followed by deck casting, which would mark the bridge’s completion.
“At the current pace, we are pushing to accelerate construction, and there are plans to introduce night shifts to make up for lost time. By the end of this year, the bridge should be ready for public use,” he assured.
On the ongoing construction of the Tal’udu flyover bridge, the commissioner stated that the challenges had been resolved and that work would resume towards its expected delivery before the end of the year.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
