By Amina Samuel,Kaduna
Kaduna State will soon have a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to ease traffic congestion, as the state government plans to convert median separators on major highways into dedicated bus lanes.
Officials of the Kaduna State Transport Regulatory Authority (KADSTRA) announced that the project will be completed within 36 months.
Speaking during a visit to the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Musa Luka, who led the KADSTRA delegation, explained the government’s plan to develop the BRT lanes from Kawo Bridge to the southern part of the metropolis.
“When the project is completed, Kaduna metropolis, including its roads and streetlights, will be transformed. The entire city will be beautified, and movement at night will be safer,” Luka said.
Luka emphasized that the BRT system will be designed to accommodate Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), making public transportation more inclusive.
“Kaduna metropolis meets all the criteria for a BRT system. People from various communities come into the city daily, and this project will ensure better movement. We will carry all stakeholders along in its implementation,” he added.
The project will include dedicated lanes running from the Monday Market axis to Kawo and other busy routes within the city. Luka assured that the government has studied and addressed potential challenges to ensure smooth implementation.
The Chairman of NUJ Kaduna State Council, Alhaji Abdulgafar Alabelewe, commended the government for involving the media early in the planning process.
“We appreciate that you have come to engage the media. Too often, we are only contacted when things go wrong. This proactive approach is commendable, and we will ensure the public is well-informed about the project,” he said.
Alabelewe described Kaduna as the “melting pot of all Nigerian tribes and the central business hub of the North,” adding that the BRT project would ease evening traffic congestion and improve the city’s transport network.
