Education
NANS Urges Kaduna Youths to Protect State Infrastructure Projects
NANS President Akinteye Afeez called on young people to protect public facilities as the association inspected infrastructure projects across Kaduna.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged youths in Kaduna State to support and protect public infrastructure projects, saying the facilities are important to students, young people and the wider community.
NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, made the call on Saturday during an inspection of ongoing and completed projects being undertaken by the Kaduna State Government.
The delegation inspected several projects, including the Kabala Costain-Aliyu Makama Link Road, which connects parts of northern and southern Kaduna.
Afeez commended the state government for investing in road infrastructure, saying improved connectivity would make movement easier for students and other residents.
“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,” he said.
He added that the road would improve access to farms, schools and healthcare facilities, while making movement to and from educational institutions easier for students.
The Kabala Costain-Aliyu Makama road is an ongoing dual-carriage project designed to improve connectivity between Kaduna North and Kaduna South. Kaduna State records describe the project as covering about 2.84 kilometres, including a dual bridge.
Afeez said NANS was in Kaduna for an extraordinary Senate meeting and decided to use the opportunity to inspect projects that directly affect young people.
“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,” he said.
The NANS president also commended investments in education, transportation, healthcare and sports.
The delegation inspected the ongoing reconstruction of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, which is being upgraded as part of the state's sports infrastructure programme. The project is expected to be completed in November 2026 and is planned to have a capacity of about 33,000 seats.
Afeez said the stadium could provide opportunities for young people with sporting talents by creating facilities where they could develop their skills.
“These are the kinds of projects that can give our youths opportunities to develop their talents and keep them positively engaged,” he said.
He urged the Kaduna State Government to sustain its infrastructure interventions while appealing to residents, particularly young people, to protect public facilities.
“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,” Afeez said.
“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 NANS would compile its observations from the inspection and submit a report to the Kaduna State Government.
He said the exercise was part of the association's efforts to inspect infrastructure, engage governments constructively and make informed recommendations on projects affecting students and young Nigerians.
The Kaduna inspection follows NANS' broader infrastructure assessment activities, including its recent nationwide inspection of federal road projects serving tertiary institutions.