The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone E (North-East), has issued a stern ultimatum to the federal government, demanding immediate action to address the deplorable state of roads in the region.
The student body expressed frustration over the continued loss of lives, including students, due to frequent accidents on what they described as “death-trap roads.”
During a press conference in Yola, the NANS Zone E Coordinator, Umar Afkawa, lamented the neglect of critical infrastructure in the region. He appealed to President Bola Tinubu’s administration to urgently return contractors to abandoned road projects in the North-East.
“We have gathered here today to address a pressing issue that has been neglected for far too long: the deplorable state of infrastructure in our region. The poor state of our roads has exacerbated the challenges we face, making it difficult to access education, healthcare, and other essential services,” Afkawa stated.
Citing a recent tragedy in Borno State, Afkawa highlighted the devastating impact of bad roads, which have claimed the lives of many students and other road users.
Demands and Ultimatum
The student leader accused the federal government of failing to deliver on infrastructure promises, giving them a one-week ultimatum to take action.
“We demand that the federal government and contractors take immediate action to address the zone on the status quo of projects before January 13, 2025. We also insist that all ongoing road projects in the North-East region be completed within the next six months,” he said.
Afkawa warned that failure to meet these demands would trigger widespread protests across the region. “We will not hesitate to take our grievances to the streets and ensure our voices are heard,” he vowed.
The NANS coordinator also urged the federal government to consider the plight of the North-East, a region still grappling with the aftermath of insurgency.
“The government must prioritize these projects to prevent further loss of lives and ensure that essential services are accessible,” Afkawa concluded.
The ultimatum underscores growing frustration among Nigerians over abandoned infrastructure projects and rising casualties linked to poor road conditions in the North-East.
