Kaduna NURTW is urging the Federal Government to fast-track road repairs to reduce accidents.
The union says poor road conditions are causing delays, hardship, and rising danger for motorists statewide.
The Kaduna State branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has called on the Federal Government to accelerate ongoing road construction and repairs across the state, particularly along the Abuja-Kaduna highway and the Kaduna Western bypass, citing frequent road crashes and growing hardship for motorists.
State Secretary of the union, Alhaji Hassan Ibrahim, made the appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna on Wednesday.
According to him, the union continues to witness a worrying trend of accidents due to the deteriorating condition of key highways. He noted that delays in road work have made travel more dangerous and time-consuming.
“We want to appeal to the Federal Government to act quickly and ensure that contractors speed up work on these roads,” Ibrahim said. “A trip from Abuja to Kaduna takes two hours, but people now spend an additional two hours just trying to get through Kaduna due to these poor road conditions. It’s simply unfair.”
Ibrahim expressed concern over the slow pace of construction, suggesting that the rainy season might be contributing to the delay. However, he stressed that the importance of these roads used by countless vehicles traveling across states demands timely completion.
He also lamented that some drivers, especially those operating smaller vehicles, have left Kaduna entirely to work along the Zuba-Abuja route because of the road challenges.
“This has become a serious problem for us,” he added. “We’re losing revenue as transporters abandon the city. The Kaduna Western bypass, in particular, has become a death trap with frequent accidents that lead to loss of lives and property.”
Ibrahim pointed to a recent incident during the Sallah holiday as an example of the chaos on Kaduna’s roads. “Just four weeks ago, there was a gridlock on the Jere-Kaduna highway that lasted over four hours. We don’t want such situations to continue,” he said.
In addition to urging the Federal Government to enforce policies that hold contractors accountable, Ibrahim also commended Governor Uba Sani for recent reforms within the state’s transport system.
He praised the decision to centralize all motor parks at the Mando mega motor park, describing it as a major step in improving orderliness, revenue generation, and public safety.
“Previously, there were many illegal motor parks operating around Kaduna,” he explained. “But when the governor assumed office, he realized the security risks and quickly moved to consolidate all operations at Mando. Now, everything is more organized and secure.”
He said the new system has helped reduce criminal activities such as the notorious “one chance” scams, where unsuspecting passengers are robbed by fake drivers. He added that passengers now feel safer traveling on major routes from Kaduna to Birnin Gwari, Jos, Abuja, and Kafanchan.
Ibrahim assured both the Kaduna State Government and security agencies of the union’s continued support. He also advised the public to avoid boarding vehicles along the roadside and instead make use of official motor parks, ensuring their names are included in the passenger manifest for safety.
