The Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) has directed the contractor handling the ongoing road construction along Zaria Road in Kano to urgently find ways to reduce the heavy traffic affecting motorists in the area.
The agency said the directive became necessary following the persistent gridlock caused by the road construction work, particularly around Tamburawa and Kwanar Fari on the outskirts of Kano metropolis.
The Managing Director of KAROTA, Faisal Mahmud Kabir, who was represented by the Deputy Managing Director, Alhaji Auwal Lawan Shu’aibu Aranposu, made the call during a meeting with a representative of the construction company, Mr. Venancius Okwuase, who paid a courtesy visit to the agency’s headquarters in Kano.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by Abubakar Ibrahim Sharada, the Public Relations Officer of KAROTA.
According to the statement, Aranposu expressed concern over the long hours motorists and other road users now spend on the road due to the congestion in the affected areas.
“We are worried about the situation on Zaria Road. Motorists and other road users are experiencing serious delays because of the traffic hold-up caused by the ongoing construction work,” he said.
He therefore urged the construction firm to take urgent steps by creating alternative routes that would help reduce congestion and allow vehicles to move more freely.
“The contractor should immediately find practical ways to ease the problem by opening alternative routes so that traffic can flow smoothly and road users can move without unnecessary delays,” he added.
He also reaffirmed KAROTA’s commitment to addressing traffic challenges both within Kano city and in surrounding areas.
“KAROTA remains committed to ensuring better traffic management and reducing congestion across the Kano metropolitan area and other parts of the state,” he said.
In his response, the representative of the construction company, Mr. Venancius Okwuase, said some measures had already been taken to reduce the traffic situation.
According to him, certain U-turn points have been reopened to help ease congestion along the road.
“The U-turns at Kwanar Fari, Immigration Office Junction and the Civil Defence Office have already been opened to help reduce the traffic congestion and improve movement along the road,” he explained.
Okwuase added that another important route at Kwanar Tamburawa would soon be opened once construction work on the stone base and asphalt laying is completed.
Zaria Road, which connects Kano metropolis to several communities including Tamburawa, Karfi and Kwanar Dawaki, has recently witnessed severe traffic delays due to the ongoing road construction project.
Motorists and passengers travelling through the area often spend between two and three hours navigating the congestion before reaching their destinations.
