Abuja:The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, has committed to enhancing infrastructure around tertiary institutions by providing pedestrian bridges and improving road access across the country.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the pledge was made in Abuja when Umahi received the report of the Northwest segment of the Nationwide Federal Roads Project Tour, conducted by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). The minister acknowledged the students’ concerns regarding road safety and access to educational institutions, assuring that their requests for pedestrian bridges will be prioritized.
Umahi emphasized the government’s plan to include access routes to campuses in future road construction projects. He highlighted ongoing efforts to meet similar requests from institutions such as the University of Abuja and Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, where pedestrian bridges are being constructed.
He assured students of the ministry’s continued attention to their safety and access needs, praising their active role in nation-building. Future road projects will aim to connect directly to campuses, thereby enhancing safety and accessibility.
The minister also addressed the importance of completing ongoing road projects and encouraged students to observe infrastructure developments firsthand. He expressed concern about the vandalism of public infrastructure along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, particularly under the Apapa bridge, and warned against such destruction undermining government investments.
NANS President Afeez Akinteye stated that the association’s road project tour aimed to inspect the impact of government projects on students. The tour covered road projects in states like Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Sokoto, focusing on their relevance to educational access. He highlighted the significance of the Kano Northern Bypass for its connectivity to multiple institutions and called for a pedestrian bridge at the Federal Co-operative College in Kaduna for student safety.
The association plans to continue its inspection tour across other regions to keep students and the public informed about infrastructure projects.