The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Akinteye Afeez, has urged Kaduna youths to support and protect infrastructure projects being executed by the state government, saying the facilities are critical to their education, mobility and future.

Afeez spoke on Saturday during an inspection of some ongoing and completed projects in Kaduna by the leadership of NANS, including the Kabala Costain-Aliyu Makama Link Road.

The NANS president, who commended the state government for its road infrastructure projects, said improved road networks would make life easier for students and other residents.

He said, “This road is very important because it connects the northern and southern parts of Kaduna. It will provide an alternative route for the people and make movement easier.

“It will also improve access to farms, schools and healthcare facilities. For students, good roads mean easier and safer movement to and from their institutions.”

Afeez said the NANS leadership was in Kaduna for an extraordinary Senate meeting and decided to use the opportunity to inspect some of the state government’s projects.

He said he was impressed with the quality and scope of the projects inspected, particularly the Kabala Costain-Aliyu Makama Link Road.

“We are impressed with what we have seen here. This is a new project and from what we have been told, it will soon be completed and handed over to the people.

“As student leaders, we are interested in projects that directly affect our members and the generality of young Nigerians. Infrastructure is a major part of that,” he added.

Afeez also commended the government’s investments in education, transportation, healthcare and sports.

He described the ongoing rehabilitation of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium as an important investment in youth development, saying it could provide opportunities for young people with sporting talents.

“We have also seen the rehabilitation of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium. We understand that it has a football pitch, gymnasium and swimming pool and that it is expected to be completed in November.

“These are the kinds of projects that can give our youths opportunities to develop their talents and keep them positively engaged,” he said.

The NANS president urged the government to sustain the projects while calling on young people to protect public infrastructure.

“We appeal to the Kaduna State Government to sustain these interventions. We also appeal to our youths to support and protect these projects because they are meant for them.

“You cannot have infrastructure and allow it to be destroyed or abandoned. When that happens, it is the people, especially the youths and students, who suffer,” Afeez said.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the Kaduna State Roads Agency, Dr Abdullahi Baba Ahmed, said the state government had initiated 116 new road projects covering about 1,400 kilometres across the 23 local government areas.

He said, “We have 116 new road projects covering approximately 1,400 kilometres across Kaduna State.

“About 80 to 90 per cent of these projects have been completed, while the remaining ones are at different stages of completion.”

Ahmed said the projects were distributed across the 23 LGAs, noting that 12 local government areas had not benefited from road construction projects for more than 12 years.

“Within three years of this administration, we have been able to take road construction to all the 23 local government areas.

“This is deliberate because we want to ensure that development is not concentrated in only a few areas. Every part of the state deserves good roads,” he said.

The KADRA boss identified the 35-kilometre Gadan Gayan-Guraji-Kujama Road as one of the flagship projects of the administration.

According to him, the road also includes a major bridge measuring about 120 metres across the River Kaduna.

He added that the government had completed internal road networks at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as well as an access road to the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia.

Ahmed said the projects were not only about transportation but also intended to improve economic activities and access to essential services.

“When you open up communities with good roads, you are also opening them up to economic opportunities. Farmers can move their produce to markets, students can get to their schools more easily and residents can access healthcare facilities,” he said.

Afeez said NANS would compile its observations from the inspection and submit its report to the Kaduna State Government after the exercise.

He said the assessment was part of efforts by student leaders to inspect infrastructure, engage governments constructively and make informed recommendations on projects affecting students and young people.

The NANS delegation was led on the tour by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki; Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma K. Ahmed; and the KADRA managing director.

Others included the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, Mock Samuel Kure; Special Adviser to the Governor on Student Affairs, Yusuf Lawal; and Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Bello Hayatu.

Afeez said students would continue to demand more development projects, stressing that “improved infrastructure directly affects our education, mobility and welfare.”