The Kaduna State government in partnership with the French Development Agency ( AFD) has concluded plans to introduce what it calls ” Kaduna Bus Rapid Transit” ( KBRT) to decongest roads in the metropolitan city to enhance quality of life for residents.
Kaduna, the State capital has been facing challenges, such as congestion, unregistered commercial transport operation and inefficiencies affecting the movement of people and goods.
It is against this backdrop, the present Administration saw the need for a structured and sustainable transport to bring order, safety and reliability to public transport.
The Director General, Kaduna State Transport Regulatory Authority , Engr. Inuwa Ibrahim who narrated this at a news briefing in Kaduna, Friday, said the transformative project would involve a 24 Km dedicated transit corridor from Kawo Bridge to Sabo Tasha with well structured bus stations and shelters strategically placed along the route.
” More than just an infrastructural development, Kaduna State Bus Rapid Transit, KBRT, represents a shift towards a modern, efficient and environmentally friendly transportation system, enhance mobility, sustainable economic growth and create job opportunities for Kaduna residents”, he emphasized.
He stated that after years of planning and delays, Governor Uba Sani had to intervene with bold financial commitments to ensure its actualisation.
To wards this end, Engr. Inuwa Ibrahim said, in 2023, apart from the release of N97m counterpart funding, the government further allocated N699m in the 2024 budget to accelerate the execution of the project .
Coming to this year 2025, a budgetary provision of N30bn was made with N5bn set aside as part of the counterpart funding, thereby re-enforcing the commitment of the Administration to seeing the project through to completion, he said.
Engr. Ibrahim also acknowledged the financier of the project, French Development Agency (AFD) for its crucial support to ensure the success.
The ground breaking ceremony of the project by the Governor and French Ambassador to Nigeria will be held on Tuesday 11th March 2025 at the Southern Terminal of the Authority , which will also serve as the depot of KBRT.
