KANO State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said in view of the growing population in the ancient city, which is causing serious traffic congestion, his administration has resolved to float a new Road Transport Authority that will accommodate over 15 million residents of the state.
Speaking during a National Council of Transportation meeting in Kano, held at the Bristol Hotel, Governor Ganduje said the state is developing a new Road Transport Policy that will take in the operations of the Public and Private Transportation system in Kano.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Nasiru Gawuna, explained that the state is concerned by the near takeover of the Road Transport system by private operators who caused traffic hazards, with lives lost and various degrees of injuries obtained in the accidents.
He added that “today, transportation has become an essential part of our social and economic lives, and has called for serious discussion to improve on the sector.”
According to him, the National Council of Transportation meeting comes at a time when Nigeria is facing critical challenges in its road transport system, and as such, deliberate policies should be adopted to finetune the sector.
His words, “Our worries today in Kano for example, is that our transportation system has been well dominated by commercial transporters of mainly ‘keke napep’, taxis, and buses which continue to pose challenges to the traffic flow in the state.”
“Therefore, we have as a result of these challenges invested heavily on the road transport system, to ease the traffic flow, this investment, as can be seen, is on the construction of bridges, roads, and even the purchase of high-class buses that will take care of the state overwhelming population,” Ganduje added.
The Governor, however, disclosed that the state billions of naira light rail project is going to be flagged off soon, which will cover Janguza, Yankura, and Jogana stations, adding that this will in high time eased the problems of intra-road transport traffic flow.
Earlier, the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Ameachi, said that President Muhammadu Buhari has invested tremendously in the Road Transport system, with almost all the nation’s roads been affected by the Federal Government Interventions.
He noted further that, railway projects embarked upon by Buhari’s government, has linked the entire country and even beyond, which would in the near future see Nigeria rejuvenating its economic fortunes.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…Kano to float new Kano to float new
Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train
The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report…Kano to float new Kano to float new