The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commenced the North-East phase of its Nationwide Federal Roads Project Tour, with the students’ body inspecting key federal highways connecting tertiary institutions in Bauchi State.
The delegation, led by NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, inspected the Jama’are-Azare Road and the Potiskum-Maiduguri Road on Friday as part of the association’s wider assessment of federal road projects across the country.
NANS said the roads were prioritised because of their importance to students travelling daily to three major tertiary institutions in the area — the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare; Bauchi State University; and Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare.
Roads and Students’ Daily Mobility
Afeez said the condition and accessibility of roads leading to tertiary institutions have a direct impact on students’ welfare, particularly those who rely on the routes for daily movement between their communities and campuses.
He said the inspection was designed to assess not only the physical condition and quality of federal road projects but also their practical impact on students and other road users.
According to the NANS president, students should be regarded as important stakeholders in the assessment of infrastructure that directly affects their education and mobility.
The association said the inspected projects were completed and that its delegation found the work to meet the standards it assessed during the exercise.
Nationwide Assessment
NANS said the North-East inspection forms part of a broader nationwide tour intended to examine federal road projects linking tertiary institutions.
The association said it would continue the assessment across other parts of the country and subsequently publish its findings and recommendations.
Afeez said NANS would acknowledge projects that meet expected standards while drawing attention to areas where additional intervention is required.
The association also said its participation was intended to ensure that the concerns of students are reflected in conversations around public infrastructure and national development.
For students who commute regularly to tertiary institutions, the quality of connecting roads can affect travel time, transportation costs and access to academic activities.
NANS said it therefore intends to continue monitoring infrastructure projects that have a direct bearing on students’ daily lives.