KADUNA, Nigeria – Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has ordered round-the-clock monitoring of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Western Bypass, declaring that the 21.5-kilometre road project must be completed ahead of its December 2026 deadline following a spate of fatal accidents along the corridor.
The Governor issued the directive at an emergency stakeholders’ meeting convened after repeated crashes on the expressway, which stretches from Command Junction through the bypass to Mando Roundabout.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner for Information & Culture, Mallam Ahmed Maiyaki, said the Governor had declared ongoing delays “completely unacceptable.
”“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, and decisive action must be taken immediately,” Maiyaki said.According to updates from the Federal Controller of Highways and contractors, approximately 19 kilometres of the 21.5-kilometre road have been completed.
However, despite the official delivery timeline of December 2026, Governor Uba Sani has now ordered an earlier completion date.To ensure strict compliance, the government has established a multi-agency task force that will operate 24/7 to monitor construction and enforce safety measures, particularly during the upcoming rainy season.
The task force, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Works, includes the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), KASTELEA, Federal Ministry of Works officials, the main contractor Dangote Industries, subcontractors Dantata & Sawo, community representatives, traditional leaders, and transport unions including NARTO, NURTW, and ACCOMORAN.
Maiyaki noted that although the project was awarded in 2021 under a previous administration, progress had been sluggish until Governor Uba Sani personally intervened.
“Since the Governor’s direct engagement, we have seen a marked improvement in the pace of work. However, progress alone is not enough—timely completion is now non-negotiable,” he said.
The Ministry of Information has also been mandated to lead an aggressive public awareness and behavioral change campaign, as unsafe road use and several high-risk crossing points have been identified as major contributing factors to the accidents.
“Beyond infrastructure, human behaviour remains a critical challenge. We are working closely with communities to enforce safer road usage. Recklessness on our roads must stop,” Maiyaki added.
The government’s intervention follows mounting pressure from community leaders and youth groups, who have described the situation along the bypass as a “serious public safety emergency” with far-reaching economic and social consequences.
With the new 24/7 oversight mechanism and an accelerated deadline now in place, the Kaduna State Government says it is determined to restore safety and ensure the Western Bypass serves its intended purpose without further loss of life.
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