By Yahya Usman
Kano is the logistics centre and the commercial heart beat of Northern Nigeria. Kano is a high-density city where market activities are at their peak every day.
The city attracts millions of traders, buyers and investors daily and from dawn to dusk.
Its bustling markets serve as economic lifelines, not only for the state but for the entire Northern region and the country at large.
Many of the Kano major markets are located within the Kano city centre, an area characterized by congestion and heavy traffic.
The Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Highway, also known as the A2 Highway, is one of the nation’s most vital transport arteries connecting the Federal Capital Territory to the North-West and further to the Niger Republic and North Africa via the Trans-Sahara Highway.
Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Highway is the second busiest road in the country after the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which serves as a vital economic link for over 12 states across the North-West, North-Central and North-East zones, facilitating the movement of agricultural products and connecting the nation to the Lagos–Algiers Trans-African Highway Network.
Finding alternative road for the busy Kano-Kaduna Express Road (The A2 Highway): The Kano – Madobi – Yako – Kwanar Dangora road is the only second option road for the ever busy Kano – Zaria – Kaduna Express road and yet, the road remains the only single lane for entry and exit road for the Kano city.
The emergence of agro-industrial companies, logistics centres, heavy traffic and Illegal parking around Kwanar Dangora, Dakatsalle, Chiromawa, Kura and Kwanar Dawaki areas have contributed a lot to the road traffic and accident occurrences on the busy Kano – Kaduna Express road.
The Kano – Zaria – Kaduna economic corridor remains excessively dependent on the Kano – Kaduna Express road, which is overwhelmed by overloaded trucks and heavy traffic.
This has created the need to have a second express road for entry and exit in-and-out of the Kano City Centre, especially when the travelers are travelling to Kaduna, Abuja and other parts of the country.
The proposed plan for the construction of an Independent Power Plant and AKK Industrial Park around the Tamburawa axis plus the springing up of major markets, parks, filling stations and other industrial and commercial centres, could contribute in creating unimaginable consequences for travelers’ entry and exit to the Kano City if a second Express Road is not constructed in order to reduce the traffic flow and congestion around the Kano axis of the Kano – Zaria – Kaduna Express road.
A shorter, safer and less-traffic road between Kano and Kaduna States: A proposed Makarfi – Kiru – Madobi – Kano super highway could serve as an alternate route between Kano city and Zaria, which could reduce traffic on the Kano – Zaria section, which would reduce traffic and bypass the most busiest areas on the Kano – Kaduna Express Road that would reconnect with the Kano – Zaria – Kaduna Express Road at Tashar Yari of Makarfi Local Government in Kaduna State.
Using a direct map, from Makarfi in Kaduna State, to Kano City via Kiru and Madobi Local Government Areas, is about 100 kilometers long compared to the Tashar Yari – Kano via the Kwanar Dangora – Dakatsalle – Kura – Kwanar Dawaki on the Kano – Kaduna Express Road, which is about 126 kilometers long. Already, Kano State Government is reconstructing the dual carriage-way Panshekara Bridge to Madobi Bridge and the Madobi Bridge – Madobi – Yako – Kafin Maiyaki road which has a distance of 74 kilometers.
Additionally, from Madobi to Kiru is less than 25 kilometers long via Alhazawa village in Kiru Local Government Area. With the road construction between Kano, Madobi, Yako and Kiru, the extension could hopefully start from Kiru to Makarfi, which is about 53 kilometres long.
By extending the road from Kiru town directly to Makarfi in Kaduna State, at least 25 kilometers of road trip could be saved for the Zaria – Kano or Makarfi – Kano journey on the busy Kano – Kaduna Express Road.
The construction of concrete tunnels on the Kano section of the new Kano – Kaduna standard guage railway, which is closer to Kano – Madobi – Yako – Kwanar Dangora Road, has limited the road’s ability to serve as the second option for the Kano – Kaduna Express Road, because of the small size of the newly constructed tunnels of the Kano – Kaduna railway line.
If constructed, the proposed Kano – Madobi – Kiru – Makarfi Superhighway could serve as a second option highway for exit and entry into the Kano city, which will help in reducing the traffic flow on the ever busy Kano – Zaria – Kaduna Express Road.
The role of Federal Government on the proposed Kano-Madobi-Kiru-Makarfi Super Highway: The construction of the Kano – Madobi – Kiru – Makarfi Super Highway project could stand as landmark infrastructure project under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which will clearly reflect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s unwavering commitment to delivering quality road infrastructure in the country.
The proposed strategic project is proposed to decongest Kano metropolis and improve traffic flow and enhance connectivity within the state and beyond. Beyond easing transportation, the proposed Kano – Makarfi Super Highway is set to drive economic expansion by facilitating smoother movement of goods and services thereby reducing travel time and lowering logistic costs for businesses and commuters.
The proposed road will also improve road safety for the busy Kano – Kaduna Express Road and open up new opportunities for trade, investment and urban development along the corridor.
Overall, the project underscores the government’s dedication to sustainable development and its resolve to building a better future for the people of Kano and Kaduna States and Nigeria at large, through purposeful investments in modern and durable infrastructure.
The role of the Northwest Development Commission in executing the project: At the time the Federal Government is constructing several concrete-based super highway projects across the country, like the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto – Badagry Super Highway and the recently approved-redesign of the Kano – Daura – Kongolam Super Highway to dual three-lane-carriageway, there is an urgent need to have a second express way that could serve as alternative highway that connects Kano and Kaduna States.
As the regional development agency of the North West zone, the North West Development Commission could play a vital role in executing the project by liaising with Kano and Kaduna State governments and other stakeholders for the development of the project.
The role of leaders: This is a call for collaboration between Kano and Kaduna State Governments, especially to Governors Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano, Uba Sani of Kaduna States, Speaker Tajuddeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin, Senators Kawu Sumaila, Rufai Sani Hanga, Mustapha Ibrahim Khalid, Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar Bichi, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, Hon. Yusuf Datti Ahmad, Hon. Umar Shehu Ajilo, Hon. Sadiq Ango Abdullahi and all concerned citizens. Similar projects in Nigeria:
The Niger State Government, under the leadership of Governor Muhammad Umar Bago is currently constructing 85 kilometres long Minna – Bida dual carriageway, which is receiving funding support from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and the African Development Bank. In addition, President Tinubu has recently approved the reconstruction of three major federal roads in Niger State totalling about 306.5 kilometres.
Moreover, the Federal Government approved N178 Billion for the reconstruction of 122 Kilometres Mando – Kaduna – Birnin Gwari Road into a Dual Carriageway, which would transform the socio-economic fortunes of the area long-affected by insecurity and poor infrastructure. Also, the Oyo State Government is constructing 110 kilometres Dual Carriageway known as Ibadan Circular Road/Senator Rashid Ladoja Circular Road.
The road, which connects with the Lagos – Ibadan Express Road, is aimed at ensuring seamless traffic flow along key routes and improves access to adjoining communities and grows new economic corridors.
Conclusion: The Kano – Makarfi Superhighway is a proposed strategic infrastructure designed to improve connectivity, ease traffic movement and support economic expansion across Kano and Kaduna States.
Usman is a development journalist and can be reached via: meetyahya02@gmail.com.