The Kaduna State Government has stepped up stakeholder engagement to improve public safety and awareness as reconstruction work continues on the Nnamdi Azikiwe Western Bypass.
The sensitization meeting was organized by the Traffic Advisory Committee of the Task Force on Traffic Control along the Western Bypass in collaboration with the state Ministry of Information and Culture.
Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Iliya Duniya, described the bypass as a critical infrastructure project that requires the support and cooperation of all stakeholders.
Maiyaki said the reconstruction, which has been ongoing for the past three years, had presented challenges that made sustained public engagement essential.
He noted that the sensitization exercise was designed to educate residents, motorists, and other stakeholders on government interventions and their roles in ensuring safety throughout the construction period.
The Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Radio and Television, Malam Dahiru Ahmed, said the forum was convened to strengthen collaboration on safety measures along the bypass.
According to him, stakeholders play a vital role in disseminating accurate information on the progress of the project and government initiatives aimed at reducing road crashes.
Ahmed said traffic management measures introduced by the government had significantly eased congestion and improved safety within the construction corridor.
He urged stakeholders to sustain awareness campaigns to prevent avoidable accidents and safeguard lives, businesses, and property.
Representing Dangote Industries, the project’s major contractor, Engr Jonathan Ogboro, commended the Kaduna State Government and host communities for their support.
Ogboro said construction strategies had been enhanced to accelerate work and ensure the project is delivered before the December deadline.
He stressed that safety remained a top priority, with proper diversions, road signage and speed bumps installed at identified black spots.
Ogboro assured residents that the contractor remained committed to delivering a quality project within the schedule.
A representative of the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr Jibril Jibril, disclosed that streetlights would be installed from the bypass to Kawo and Mando to enhance visibility and safety.
He urged motorists to obey traffic regulations, noting that the installation of additional speed bumps would further reduce road crashes.
The Kaduna State Chairman of the National Association of Trailer and Truck Owners (NATO), Alhaji Babangida Ja’afar, called for greater public understanding of trailer operations.
He warned motorists against using mobile phones while driving and advised road users to avoid dangerous maneuvers around articulated vehicles.
Ja’afar also cautioned against setting trucks involved in accidents ablaze, urging members of the public to allow security agencies to handle emergency situations.
He appealed to traditional leaders to intensify public education on safe road use and trailer movements.
Representing the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Salisu Isa attributed most crashes along the corridor to human error, including speeding, dangerous overtaking, and indiscriminate parking.
Isa said stronger collaboration among security agencies and volunteers had contributed to a decline in accidents on the bypass.
He advocated sustained public enlightenment through religious institutions, media organizations, and community leaders.
The representative of the Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Authority, Hajiya Hauwa Uthman, urged motorists to cooperate with traffic officials and comply with traffic regulations.
She commended stakeholders for supporting efforts to promote safer roads through community participation and awareness.
Representing Operation Fushin Kada of the Nigeria Police Force, ASP Kashim Ibrahim appealed for continued public cooperation to maintain law and order along the construction corridor.
The District Head of Tudun Wada, Alhaji Tahir Mahmud, said residents had requested additional U-turns during consultations with the contractors.
He disclosed that the contractors assured the community that more U-turns had already been incorporated into the project design.
Mahmud noted that about 20 kilometers of the 24-kilometer bypass pass through Tudun Wada, making community support indispensable to the project’s success.
He commended the Kaduna State Government for establishing the traffic task force to protect lives and property.
Also speaking, Mr. Rayyan Hussain, representing Sabon Gari Ward Councilor Abdullahi Malon, pledged continued support for the reconstruction project and ongoing stakeholder engagement.
At the end of the meeting, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to promoting safer roads through sustained public awareness, effective traffic enforcement, and closer collaboration with the government and contractors.
SOURCE: NAN
