…Pledges FIFA-standard upgrade of A’Bello Stadium
Kaduna State governor, Senator Uba Sani, on Monday commissioned the longest road project completed in the state in the last 20 years, while also unveiling plans to upgrade the iconic Ahmadu Bello Stadium to international standards, in a renewed push to expand infrastructure and social development across the state.
The newly completed 35-kilometre asphaltic road cuts across Igabi, Kajuru and Chikun local government areas, linking Gadan Gayan through Gwaraji to Kujama Junction, and serving more than 76 farming communities. The project also features a 130-metre bridge over River Kaduna, providing critical access for several rural settlements.
Speaking at the commissioning, Governor Sani described the road as a historic milestone in Kaduna’s infrastructure development, noting that it reflects his administration’s inclusive and people-centred development agenda.
Flagged-off in January 2024, the Governor said the project was delivered as promised through disciplined planning and professional execution, adding that the road will ease mobility, reduce travel time and transportation costs, and provide an alternative route to the often-congested Kaduna metropolis.
According to him, the benefits of the project extend beyond transportation, with positive implications for emergency response, access to education and healthcare, as well as improved connectivity to markets and social services.
Governor Sani also underscored the road’s agricultural importance, stressing that agriculture remains the leading contributor to Kaduna State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He said the corridor directly links farms in productive rural communities to markets, aggregation centres and processing facilities, helping to reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen agricultural value-chains.
Early signs of economic revival are already emerging along the route, he noted, with new filling stations, markets and small businesses springing up, describing this as the “multiplier effect of well-planned infrastructure”.
The Governor added that the project addresses long-standing gaps in public investment, particularly in Kajuru local government area, which had not benefited from a major road project for over 12 years. He said his administration is reversing decades of under-investment across the state.
The commissioned road, Sani explained, is part of a broader programme of 140 road projects spanning 1,335 kilometres statewide, with 66 already completed and others at between 60 and 75% completion.
In a related development, Governor Sani announced plans to remodel the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna to FIFA standards, positioning it to host international competitions. He said the facility, built in 1965, will be expanded to a 32,000-seat capacity – double its current size – making it the second largest stadium in Nigeria after the National Stadium in Abuja.
The Governor disclosed this during a visit by officials of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), led by its Director-General, Phillip Shuaibu. He also pledged the state government’s support for the NIS North-West zonal office in Kaduna, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to sports development alongside critical infrastructure investment.
