The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commenced the North-East phase of its nationwide assessment of federal road projects, with a focus on routes linking tertiary institutions across the region.

The student body, alongside the National Association of University Students (NAUS), National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) and National Association of Colleges of Education Students (NANCES), inspected the Jamare-Azare Road and Potiskum-Maiduguri Road in Bauchi State.

The inspection formed part of the ongoing Nationwide Federal Roads Project Tour initiated by the students’ bodies to assess the condition and quality of federal roads and their impact on students’ daily movement.

NANS President, Babatunde Afeez Akinteye, who led the delegation, said the roads were particularly important because they provided access to major tertiary institutions in the area.

According to him, the routes link the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, Bauchi State University and Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare.

He said students relied on the roads daily to commute to their various campuses, making their condition a matter of direct concern to the student community.

During the inspection, the delegation assessed the quality of the roads and their impact on transportation and movement within the axis.

Afeez said the projects inspected were completed and met what he described as commendable quality standards.

“As major users of these roads and partners in nation-building, we commend the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, for his foresight and commitment to infrastructural development that serves Nigerian students and commuters across these states,” he said.

The NANS president also lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as investments in infrastructural development.

He said the quality and accessibility of roads leading to tertiary institutions remained important to students because of their daily journeys between their places of residence and campuses.

Akinteye, however, said the assessment would not be limited to commendations.
He said the student bodies would continue to identify gaps in federal road projects and make recommendations where improvements were required.

“As we continue the tour across other parts of the North-East, we will continue to give our unbiased commendations where projects meet the required standards and make recommendations where there are identified gaps,” he said.

According to him, the initiative was designed to provide students with an opportunity to assess infrastructure that directly affects their welfare and academic activities.

He said the leadership of NANS and its sister student organisations would continue to assess federal road projects leading to tertiary institutions and examine their impact on students’ daily movement.

The student body said the Nationwide Federal Roads Project Tour would continue across other parts of the country.

At the end of the exercise, NANS said it would compile an official report containing its observations and recommendations for presentation to relevant authorities.

The association said the initiative was part of its broader commitment to advocating projects and policies capable of improving students’ welfare and creating a more conducive environment for learning.