Federal Lawmakers Push for Urgent Rehabilitation of Critical Northern Highway
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has issued a pressing call for the rehabilitation of the deteriorating Kano-Kari Highway, a crucial transportation artery connecting multiple states in northern Nigeria.
The legislative initiative, presented during Tuesday’s plenary session, emerged from a collaborative motion by eight lawmakers, spearheaded by Hon. Yusuf Shitu Galambi. The motion garnered support from Representatives Yusuf Rabi’u, Abdulkarim Kamilu Ado, Mustapha Tijjani Ghali, Yakubu Adamu, Sani Ibrahim Tanko, Hashim Adamu, and Aliyu Babba Misau.
The highway, which serves as a vital link between Kano, Jigawa, and Bauchi States, traverses numerous local government areas including Wudil, Garko, and Sumaila in Kano State; Takai LGA in Kano; Birnin Kudu and Gwaram LGAs in Jigawa State; and Shira, Giade, and Misau LGAs in Bauchi State.
Despite receiving Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval for complete rehabilitation in 1999, the road has continued to deteriorate significantly. According to Hon. Galambi, this degradation has severely impacted regional commerce, agriculture, and daily commuter activities.
“The road’s current condition not only impedes traffic flow but has become a serious threat to lives and property,” Galambi emphasized during the presentation. He highlighted how the highway’s poor state has led to the decline of previously bustling weekly markets and created security vulnerabilities, making the route susceptible to criminal activities.
The economic impact has been particularly severe on farmers and livestock traders who rely on the highway to transport their goods to markets across the country. The deteriorating infrastructure has resulted in substantial financial losses for these business operators and reduced government revenue generation potential.
In response, the House adopted two key resolutions: directing the Federal Ministry of Works to commence comprehensive rehabilitation of the highway, and requesting the Ecological Office of the Federation to specifically address damaged sections in Sara, Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
To ensure implementation, the House has tasked its Committees on Legislative Compliance and Works with monitoring the execution of these directives. This oversight aims to guarantee that the much-needed rehabilitation work moves from proposal to actual implementation.
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