Bomba Dauda
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, on Monday commissioned the longest road constructed in the state in the last 20 years, a major infrastructure project spanning three local government areas and connecting over 76 farming communities.
The road, which runs from Igabi through Kajuru to Chikun Local Government Areas, includes a 130-metre bridge over River Kaduna and serves several rural settlements along the corridor.
Governor Sani said the 35-kilometre asphalt road linking Gadan Gayan, Gwaraji and Kujama Junction will significantly improve mobility, boost agricultural productivity and stimulate rural economic growth.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the governor described the project as a historic milestone in Kaduna State’s infrastructure development, noting that it reflects his administration’s inclusive and people-centred development strategy.
He recalled that the project was flagged off in January 2024 with a commitment to deliver a durable and efficient transport corridor.
“Through disciplined planning, professional execution and collective commitment, that promise has been fulfilled,” he said.
Governor Sani explained that the road provides an alternative route that reduces dependence on the often congested Kaduna metropolis, cutting travel time and transportation costs for commuters and traders.
He added that the project would improve access to essential services across the affected communities.
“Emergency responders will reach patients faster, schoolchildren will get to their classrooms more easily, and families will enjoy better access to healthcare, markets and social services,” he said.
Emphasising the road’s agricultural significance, the governor noted that agriculture remains the largest contributor to Kaduna State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“By passing through agriculturally productive rural communities across three local government areas, this road directly links farms to markets, aggregation centres, processing facilities and urban consumption hubs. It will reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen agricultural value chains,” he stated.
Governor Sani observed that early signs of economic revival are already emerging along the corridor, with new filling stations, markets and small businesses springing up.
“This is the quiet but powerful multiplier effect of well-planned infrastructure,” he remarked.
He further said the project addresses long-standing gaps in public investment, particularly in Kajuru Local Government Area, which had not benefited from a major road project in more than 12 years.
“That prolonged neglect constrained economic activity, and it was unacceptable,” he said, assuring residents that his administration is reversing decades of under-investment.
The governor disclosed that the newly commissioned road forms part of a broader infrastructure programme involving 140 road projects covering a total of 1,335 kilometres across Kaduna State.
According to him, 66 of the roads initiated by his administration have been completed, while others are between 60 and 75 per cent completion.
