Motorists in Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina States have expressed serious concerns over deteriorating road conditions, which they say have become a hazard for daily commuters. Drivers, union leaders, and road safety advocates criticized the poor state of the roads in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), highlighting that numerous pothole-riddled and crumbling roads have caused frequent accidents, vehicle damage, and significant loss of lives.
Kaduna’s National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Secretary, Suleiman Bature, urged state and federal authorities to increase road maintenance efforts, stating, “The deteriorating condition of roads has fatal consequences.” He noted that while road rehabilitation projects exist, their slow pace continues to impede transportation and puts lives at risk.
Urban planning expert Francis Bisallah attributed some issues to corruption among contractors who use substandard materials, leading to premature road deterioration. In Katsina, commercial drivers decried the Kafur-Zaria road’s condition, emphasizing that ongoing repairs are progressing too slowly and leaving travelers vulnerable to accidents and nighttime security threats.
In Kano, drivers called for immediate intervention on major roads like Gwarzo-Dayi and Kano-Maiduguri, stressing that poor road conditions cause delays, increased maintenance costs, and safety risks. Kano’s road agency reported efforts to rehabilitate over 30 local roads, while federal initiatives such as “Operation Free Our Roads” continue to target road safety improvements across Nigeria.
