Federal Government Plans Pedestrian Bridges, Better Road Access to Nigerian Universities

FG targets safer campus access

The Federal Government is planning to improve road access to tertiary institutions and provide pedestrian bridges at locations where students face safety risks while crossing major highways.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, disclosed this in Abuja while receiving a report from the Northwest leg of the Nationwide Federal Roads Project Tour conducted by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

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Umahi said the government had taken note of students' concerns about road safety and campus accessibility and would incorporate direct access routes and pedestrian bridges into future road construction projects where feasible.

FG plans pedestrian bridges around tertiary institutions

Umahi said requests for pedestrian bridges from tertiary institutions would receive attention, noting that the Federal Government was already working on projects requested by the University of Abuja and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

He also said future road investments would, where possible, include bridges and connecting spurs leading directly to tertiary institution campuses.

The approach is intended to address situations where students have to cross busy highways or use poorly connected roads to reach their institutions.

For students and other road users, pedestrian bridges can provide a safer means of crossing high-traffic routes, particularly around campuses located along major federal highways.

NANS highlights road access as part of campus infrastructure

The NANS road project tour was designed to assess federal road projects and their impact on students and communities.

The Northwest leg covered Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna and Sokoto states, with the delegation inspecting several major federal highways, including the Kano-Kwanar Danja-Hadejia Road, Kano Northern Bypass, Kano-Maiduguri Road, Kano-Katsina Road, Kaduna-Kano Road and Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road.

Other projects inspected included the Mando-Birnin Gwari Road, Sokoto-Badagry Road and Illela-Dukamaje Road.

NANS President Afeez Akinteye said roads connecting tertiary institutions should be viewed as part of the infrastructure required to support access to education.

He specifically highlighted the Kano Northern Bypass, which he said connects 10 tertiary institutions in the region and could provide an alternative route for students and commuters while reducing pressure on traffic within Kano metropolis.

The association also called for a pedestrian bridge at the Federal Co-operative College in Kaduna along the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano route.

Better connectivity could support emerging communities

The proposed improvements have implications beyond student safety.

Road infrastructure plays an important role in determining how residential and commercial areas develop, particularly around major cities and rapidly expanding urban corridors.

Improved access to tertiary institutions can increase the attractiveness of surrounding areas for student accommodation, rental housing, retail businesses, hospitality facilities and other services.

Where campuses are located outside established urban centres, improved road connections can also encourage development along surrounding corridors by reducing travel constraints and improving access to employment, education and commercial activity.

For Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and other cities with expanding urban boundaries, the relationship between transport infrastructure and land development will remain important as new communities emerge around major road corridors.

Road projects can influence property development

Better road connectivity can increase the viability of property development by improving access to sites that were previously difficult to reach.

For developers, road quality affects construction logistics, transportation costs and the ability of residents or tenants to access completed projects.

Around tertiary institutions, improved roads can also support demand for purpose-built student accommodation, rental housing, neighbourhood retail and other services.

However, road improvements do not automatically guarantee property-market growth. Land titles, planning approvals, drainage, electricity, water supply, security and the availability of effective public transport will also determine whether new development is sustainable.

Kano Northern Bypass highlights wider infrastructure impact

The Kano Northern Bypass illustrates how a major road project can serve multiple functions beyond moving traffic.

According to NANS, the bypass provides connections to several tertiary institutions while also offering an alternative route around Kano metropolis.

Such infrastructure can reduce pressure on existing urban roads and improve movement between residential areas, educational institutions and commercial centres.

Over time, better connectivity can contribute to the expansion of urban activity towards areas previously constrained by inadequate transport infrastructure.

For the property sector, this can create new development corridors, although the actual impact will depend on the pace of complementary infrastructure and population growth.

Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway also targets November milestone

Umahi also disclosed that the main pavement of the first 105 kilometres of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is expected to be completed by November 2026.

The announcement comes as the Federal Government continues work on the wider coastal highway, which is intended to improve connectivity along Nigeria's coastline.

The minister, however, raised concerns about vandalism along sections of the project, particularly around the Apapa axis, warning that damage to public infrastructure could undermine the benefits of major government investment.

The Federal Government has previously identified the coastal highway as a major transport infrastructure project, with implications for connectivity between coastal communities and economic centres.

Infrastructure protection remains a concern

The vandalism concerns raised by Umahi highlight another issue relevant to infrastructure-led urban development: maintaining public assets after construction.

Roads, bridges, drainage systems and other infrastructure require ongoing maintenance and protection to deliver their intended economic benefits.

Damage to infrastructure can increase public expenditure, disrupt mobility and reduce the reliability of transport corridors serving residential and commercial areas.

For property developers and investors, infrastructure reliability is particularly important because the value and usability of many development locations depend on sustained access to roads and other public services.

Outlook for property and urban development

The Federal Government's proposed pedestrian bridges and improved campus access represent a relatively targeted infrastructure intervention, but the wider road programme has broader implications for urban development.

Better connections to tertiary institutions can strengthen existing communities, support student housing and commercial activity, and improve access to surrounding residential areas.

The larger impact will depend on how road projects are coordinated with land-use planning, drainage, public transport, utilities and development control.

For Nigeria's housing and property markets, the continued expansion of road infrastructure remains significant because improved connectivity can open new development corridors. The challenge will be ensuring that such growth is accompanied by the supporting infrastructure needed to create safe, accessible and sustainable communities.

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