By: Abdullahi Inuwa
Fresh signs of transformation are emerging across Katsina State as the Federal Government’s Special Intervention road projects gather momentum, promising to reconnect rural communities, boost trade, and strengthen urban–rural integration.
Leading a commissioning and inspection tour of key projects, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North-West), Alhaji Abdullahi Tanko-Yakasai, said the ongoing works are strategically designed to unlock the socio-economic potential of rural areas while improving access to major urban centres.
“These roads are not just about asphalt,” Yakasai declared. “They are about livelihoods, mobility, and shared prosperity.”
Critical Roads, Strategic Impact
The presidential aide commissioned and inspected Special Intervention projects addressing flooded sections and washouts along the Marabar Kankara Road, Katsina–Dutsinma Road, and Makurda axis of the Katsina–Daura Road—all vital links for farming, commerce, and daily movement in the state.
Other projects inspected included the dualization of the Katsina–Kano Road and the 17.362-kilometre Unguwar Iliya–Bagudu–Kwantakwaran–Tsiga–Bakori Road, a route expected to significantly ease movement for rural dwellers.
₦31bn Project, 30-Month Timeline
Yakasai revealed that the 17.362-kilometre road project was awarded to Halis Matrix Limited at a cost of ₦31.204 billion, with a completion timeline of 30 months.
Providing updates, the construction firm’s representative, Engineer David Omotoso, said work began in April 2025 and assured that the project would reach 40 percent completion within the next month.
Katsina–Kano Road: A Game Changer
While inspecting Phase II of the Katsina–Kano dualization, Yakasai noted that the project would raise living standards, enhance safety, and complement the development efforts of both Katsina and Kano States.
He urged Nigerians to continue supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing infrastructure development as the backbone of national growth.
Commendation and Caution
The presidential aide commended the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, for driving the Special Intervention projects across the six geopolitical zones.
However, Engineer Tang Tiran of CCECC, the firm handling part of the project, appealed to government to urgently resolve compensation issues, which he said could affect project timelines.
Engineers, Communities Applaud Progress
The Controller of the Federal Ministry of Works in Katsina State, Engr. Muhammad Idris Matinja, said the inspection tour reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to keeping roads safe nationwide.
Representatives of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) praised the quality and steady pace of work, describing it as clear evidence of President Tinubu’s resolve to improve lives—especially in rural communities.
Hope on the Horizon
For residents of the affected communities, the projects signal a turning point. Locals say improved roads will unlock markets, create jobs, and expand access to healthcare and education—particularly for women and young people.
As bulldozers roll and asphalt spreads, one message echoed across Katsina’s dusty corridors:
these roads are paving the way not just for vehicles—but for opportunity, inclusion, and renewed hope.
