The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for the ongoing construction of the Northern Bypass in Kano State.

NANS said the project, which it described as a major infrastructure intervention in the North-West, would help reduce traffic congestion and improve access to tertiary institutions and communities across the region when completed.

The NANS President, Akinteye Afeez, disclosed this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Friday, following an inspection of the project by a delegation of the students’ association.

Afeez said the inspection was part of NANS’ nationwide assessment of federal road projects connecting tertiary institutions, with the aim of monitoring infrastructure that directly affects students.

According to him, the Northern Bypass runs through parts of the North-West and connects 10 institutions in the region, making it particularly important to students travelling between Kano and neighbouring states.

He said the road was expected to ease congestion in central Kano and improve movement for students and other commuters travelling between states.

The NANS president said the project consists of a 69.4-kilometre dual carriageway, three flyovers and seven bridges.

He added that the delegation was impressed by the quality and pace of construction observed during the inspection.

Afeez also commended Umahi for identifying transportation challenges in the region and initiating measures to address them, while praising the Tinubu administration for its infrastructure investments and efforts to improve road connectivity nationwide.

He said the inclusion of access to tertiary institutions in the planning of road projects was particularly important to students.

NANS also praised the Federal Government for compensating farmers whose agricultural land was acquired for the project, describing the payment as important in addressing the effects of the construction on affected communities and their livelihoods.

The association, however, urged the government to maintain the current pace of construction and ensure the project is completed on schedule.