Kaduna's 'Comprehensive Urban Renewal Programme'

A comprehensive roads-repairs-and-rehabilitation programme has reached an advanced stage to address the worrisome condition of urban and sub-urban roads in Kaduna state, as part of a renewed and systematic approach of the Kaduna State Roads Agency (KADRA) to deliver dividends of democracy.

KADRA’s Managing Director, Engr Lawal Mohammed Magaji who made this known in his office, in a chat with correspondents and leading members of the civil society who paid him a courtesy visit to be abreast of operations and the workings of KADRA revealed that the agency has bought into Commitment 2 of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), of the Governor el-Rufai-led administration, which has to do with openness and transparency.

“I am very delighted by your visit. I used to have a wrong impression of some civil society organizations. Initially I thought civil societies were there to confront government and fine fault where there is none. I now think differently, especially given the great job CALPED is doing to create awareness on the need for the people to part of governance”, Magaji explained, stressing that the agency’s doors are open for heathy engagement and collaboration with the media and the civil society, in line OGP principles.

The managing director disclosed that KADRA would soon receive delivery of heavy duty road repairs equipment to address the bad state of roads throughout the state.

“I am pleased to inform you that some of the equipment we are expecting are road patchers. It would make our work faster because of its industrialized and easy to use patching method. So, between now and the next two years, road rehabilitation and repairs would intensify in the state”, Magaji revealed.

Yusuf Ishaku Goje of Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment and Development (CALPED) – who lead the delegation – while responding, reiterated that the civil society was not out to antagonize the government, but to collaborate with government towards the overall development of the state in the spirit of the Open Government Partnership (OGP). “This is the OGP in practice and a positive signal that the state government is committed to the critical principles of transparency, accountability and responsiveness to citizen’s engagement” he stated.

The meeting ended with the presentation of the official response of KADRA to the request of CALPED on behalf of other civil society partners for details on locations, geographical spread (senatorial zones) and allocations of the township road projects and state trunk road projects as captured in the 2019 Kaduna State Budget under the agency.

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