The Managing Director of Kaduna Roads Agency (KADRA), Abdullahi Baba-Ahmed, has expressed optimism that the ongoing road rehabilitation and new projects executed by the administration of Governor Uba Sani will revive industries, reopen closed businesses and ease transportation, especially in industrial corridors.
Baba-Ahmed gave the assurance during a recent routine inspections of road projects in Kakuri industrial layout, Barnawa, Pan Drive-Television Road and the Raba–Rigasa train station dual carriageway.
He said most of the projects were inherited from the previous administration but stalled due to outstanding certificates, unpaid compensations and relocation of water and electricity lines.
He added that the Uba Sani administration revived the projects and cleared huge financial liabilities to ensure work continued.
“We inherited this Kakuri–Nasarawa–Flour Mills Road at 25 per cent. Only drainage was partly done — no stone base, no binder, no asphalt. Today, we are at 65 per cent and binder course has been laid. This road passes through industrial layout where businesses have shut down. With work now progressing, industries are returning to life,” he said.
He noted that the governor had released almost a billion naira in compensations covering about 120 affected households in Raba- Rigasa road corridor.
The KADRA boss described the Raba–Rigasa train station road as one of the most critical projects under construction, linking Arewa House through Mahuta to the train station. He said the project was inherited at 30 per cent completion but has now advanced after major drainage and binder layers were executed.
“This is a dual carriageway that will ease movement to the Rigasa station and beyond. His Excellency insisted it must be delivered before the next rainy season. These are not just asphalt and concrete — these are roads to progress. They will reopen closed businesses,” he added.
On the Kabala–Aliyu Makama–Barnawa dual carriageway, Ahmed said asphalt has been laid and bridge components have commenced.
The project manager of CCECC, Kaduna office, Henry Zhang, confirmed progress, saying over 30 per cent of the Raba road has been completed.
He also stated that the construction company has made a lot of progress in other ongoing works.
“We have achieved milestones on Raba Road. We completed three kilometres of stone base and binder course. With continued support, we will finish as soon as possible,” Mr Zhang said.
Residents also expressed gratitude to the state governor, promising to elect him for the second term.
One of the residents of the Television area, Moses Haruna, lauded the pace at which the road construction was going.
According to him, “we have seen everything going on and we the Southern Kaduna are ready to arrange a youth committee to arrange and contribute money to buy him a form for his second tenure. They told us a successor will usually be worse but Uba Sani is different. Uba Sani is the best.”
Another, Ladidi Abubakar, described the road as a relief to the community.
“Before, the road was in deplorable condition, but now it is very good. We appreciate our governor for the work he is doing,” she said.
The agency said work will continue across the state as weather conditions permit.
