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Fatal crashes: Kaduna orders faster completion of Nnamdi Azikiwe bypass

From The Punch · (7m ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Kaduna State Government has ordered the accelerated completion of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Western Bypass due to a series of fatal accidents.
  • Governor Uba Sani expressed deep concern over the rising death toll and rejected the previous December 2026 completion deadline, demanding an earlier finish.
  • A multi-agency task force will monitor progress and enforce safety, while public enlightenment campaigns will address unsafe road practices and recklessness.

Kaduna State is taking decisive action to address the alarming spate of fatal accidents on the Nnamdi Azikiwe Western Bypass. Governor Uba Sani has mandated the immediate acceleration of the project's completion, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to further loss of life on this critical highway.

His Excellency is profoundly disturbed by the tragic loss of lives recorded on this highway. No level of progress can justify the continued loss of even a single life. This situation is intolerable.

— Ahmed MaiyakiCommissioner for Information and Culture, conveying Governor Uba Sani's alarm over fatal accidents on the Nnamdi Azikiwe Western Bypass.

The governor's directive came after an emergency stakeholders' meeting, where the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, conveyed Sani's profound distress over the mounting fatalities. "No level of progress can justify the continued loss of even a single life. This situation is intolerable," Maiyaki stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

While the bypass project was initially awarded before the current administration, progress has been sluggish. Governor Sani has now rejected the December 2026 deadline, insisting the project must be delivered ahead of schedule. To ensure compliance and enhance safety, a dedicated multi-agency task force has been established to oversee construction and implement safety measures, particularly during the challenging rainy season.

About 19 kilometres have been completed, but His Excellency has rejected the December 2026 deadline. The project must be delivered ahead of schedule.

— Ahmed MaiyakiCommissioner for Information and Culture, detailing the project's progress and the governor's revised deadline.

The government also recognizes that infrastructure alone is not the solution. Commissioner Maiyaki highlighted that unsafe road practices and recklessness significantly contribute to accidents. Consequently, intensified public enlightenment campaigns are planned to promote safer road usage and curb dangerous behaviors. The Nnamdi Azikiwe Western Bypass is a vital federal highway designed to alleviate traffic congestion in Kaduna, and its timely, safe completion is a top priority for the state government.

Beyond infrastructure, human behaviour remains a critical challenge. Recklessness on our roads must stop.

— Ahmed MaiyakiCommissioner for Information and Culture, addressing the role of unsafe road practices in accidents.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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