Gov. Yusuf determined to make Kano Dubai of Africa – Commissioner

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

Kano state Commissioner for Works, Engr. Marwan Aminu Ahmad, has said that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s ambition is to make Kano the Dubai of Africa before the expiration of his tenure as Governor of the state.

In an interview with our Correspondent, Engr. Ahmad said Governor Yusuf, who was a former Commissioner for Works in the state, is taking infrastructural development, road construction and rehabilitation, into across the nooks and crannies of the state, without exception to the rural areas.

According to him: “In Kano, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration has been making significant strides in infrastructural development. The governor has initiated massive road construction and rehabilitation projects, including the N27 billion overpass and underpass bridges at Dan’agundi junction and Tal’udu roundabout.

“He has also flagged off the reconstruction of critical urban roads like Zungeru Road in Sabon Gari and Gayawa-Bulbulawa road.”

Engr. Ahmad maintained that Governor Yusuf’s urban renewal programme aimed to transform Kano into a world-class urban center, focusing on modernizing metropolitan road networks for efficient transportation.

He further stated that, “Governor Yusuf has resumed work on the 5-kilometre road projects across the 44 Local Government Areas which was initiated by former Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, but was abandoned, by the immediate-past administration.”

Engr. Ahmad hinted that the five kilometre road project has already been completed in Gwarzo, Albasu, Tofa, Dawakin Tofa, Minjibir, Dawakin Kudu and Sumaila Local Government Areas, while work is ongoing across other Local Government Areas in the state.

Engr. Ahmad who described the state of infrastructure in Kano before the advent of Governor Yusuf as “terrible” said the present administration is determined to rebuild Kano and put it in a shape of the Dubai of Africa.

According to him, “infrastructure is a very wide sector. There is a lot of demand by the general public. What we met on ground in terms of road infrastructure was terrible.

“We delved into general maintenance of potholes. In the first year of this administration, we did massive road maintenance across the 44 Local Government Areas. Governor Yusuf also engaged in urban renewal with the award of multiple gigantic projects.”

Engr. Ahmad said Governor Yusuf intended to construct about seven flyovers/Interchanges before the end of his administration.

According to the Commissioner, the Tal’udu Interchange (clover leaf flyover) in Gwale Local Government Area and Dan’Agundi Interchange (flyover and underpass) are slated to be completed by the end of 2025.

He further stated that Governor Yusuf’s administration also engaged in rehabilitation and renovation of buildings in all ministries, agencies and parastatals across the state giving them a facelift.

“The seat of power, Government House is also undergoing a redesign. Currently, Governor Yusuf administration has initiated over 92 construction and rehabilitation of roads across the 44 Local Government Areas.

“Records of revalidated projects by Governor Yusuf’s administration indicates that out of 28 projects, 11 have been completed while 17 are ongoing. There is 163 new awarded projects, renovation and rehabilitation works out of which 86 have been completed, while 55 are ongoing,” he stated.

Engr. Ahmad named many of the notable infrastructural projects by Governor Yusuf to include the dualization of Lodge Road, construction of flyovers and underpasses, and rehabilitation of roads in industrial areas like Bompai, Sharada, Challawa, and Tokarawa to boost economic activities.

He said the administration has allocated funds for constructing critical rural roads, such as Ja’en Makera-Salanta, Gudduba-Unguwar Baizangon Guliya, and Fagoje-Kwanar Zuwo, improving road accessibility and economic opportunities in rural communities.