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Abuja gridlock: ADSC research, alerts authorities, says there’s urgent need for investment, administrative decentralization

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The Africa Development Studies Centre (ADSC), in its research findings on Abuja gridlock has said there’s urgent need for investment and administrative decentralization to curb the menace in the Federal Capital Territory FCT.

This was contained in a statement issued by ADSC’s President, Sir, Victor Oluwafemi on Wednesday where he noted that he issued this statement on the strength of ADSC’s policy research and urban systems analysis on the worsening traffic gridlock within the Federal Capital Territory.

Oluwafemi explained that: “Our findings are clear. Abuja’s morning and evening congestion has moved beyond inconvenience.

” It is now a structural governance challenge with direct implications for national productivity, public service performance, staff wellbeing, investor confidence, and the long term liveability of the capital.

” Every workday, the same pattern repeats itself. In the mornings, a large majority of vehicles flow toward the same central corridors because government offices, public service points, and high activity institutions remain excessively clustered in the city core.

“In the evenings, the same traffic reverses in a single wave, creating daily paralysis that drains time, energy, and morale.

“ADSC’s research indicates that this problem is driven primarily by institutional concentration, not simply by limited road space.

” The more Abuja continues to concentrate government activity into the same tight centre, the more congestion becomes inevitable, regardless of how many interchanges are built.

“While road expansions and corridor upgrades remain important, they are insufficient as a standalone solution. Global urban planning evidence shows that where traffic demand is generated by concentrated destinations, increasing road capacity often produces temporary relief before congestion returns as demand rises to match the new capacity.

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” Abuja must therefore shift from a road led response to a governance led, spatial planning strategy that reduces the daily need for mass commuting into the city centre.

“On the basis of these findings, I respectfully call on Mr President and the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, to adopt an evidence led decongestion programme anchored on accelerated satellite town development and administrative decentralisation.

” The Federal Capital Territory has substantial land and expansion potential across Kwali, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Bwari, and Abaji.

” These municipalities should no longer remain peripheral settlements while the city centre carries an unsustainable load. When satellite towns are treated only as residential spillover, they create commuter pressure rather than economic balance.

“The solution is to build them as functional municipal centres where people can work, access services, invest, and live without being compelled to enter central Abuja daily.

Oluwafemi who is also Founder, Douglas Development Institute (DDI) said: “ADSC recommends the phased relocation of selected non sensitive and high traffic government functions to these satellite municipalities.

“Priority should be given to back office directorates and support units, training institutions and conference facilities, records and archives, stores and logistics centres, procurement processing and compliance units, and high footfall service points that can operate efficiently as one stop municipal hubs.

“This will reduce peak hour traffic demand, improve punctuality, lift staff motivation, and spread economic activity across the wider FCT.

“In addition, we recommend accelerated digitisation of government workflows so that approvals, memos, reporting, file routing, and inter agency coordination occur securely through digital systems rather than requiring constant physical movement.

“When governance processes become digitally enabled, congestion reduces organically, service delivery becomes faster, transparency improves, and the entire administration becomes more efficient.

“Finally, ADSC supports a broader national approach where suitable federal institutions, where feasible, are relocated to other states of the federation.

” This will reduce Abuja’s long term administrative burden, strengthen national belonging through a more visible and balanced federal presence, and stimulate development and job creation beyond the capital.

“Abuja must not wait to become permanently gridlocked before structural reform is undertaken. A capital that cannot move will eventually struggle to lead. The time to act is now, while reforms can be implemented in a phased, orderly, and dignified manner that protects productivity, public health, and the identity of Abuja as a planned and functional capital.

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Mahanga TV appoints former AREWA24 staff Zuwairiyah Girei as MD

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Mahanga TV, a Kano-based television station, has appointed former AREWA24 staff member Zuwairiyah Adamu Girei as its new Managing Director, bringing her more than 14 years of experience in Hausa-language television production and broadcasting to the organisation.

Girei was formally welcomed into her new role during a reception held at Mahanga TV’s premises in Kano on Monday, November 2, 2026, marking a new phase in the organisation’s growthe barely three months after its launch.

Speaking at the reception, Girei expressed excitement over her appointment, describing her experience at AREWA24 as a significant milestone in her professional journey.

She said she would draw on the knowledge and experience acquired during her time at the television station to strengthen Mahanga TV and drive it towards greater achievements.

“All the experience I have at AREWA24, I will bring here, and I think I will do extraordinary because I know what I have learnt there. I pray that we will see success beyond our expectations,” she said.

Outlining her vision for Mahanga TV, the new Managing Director said the organisation would look beyond Northern Nigeria and target audiences across Africa and the rest of the world.

She identified the large Hausa-speaking population as a major opportunity for the industry, noting that despite the challenges facing Hausa-language broadcasting, the sector has a substantial audience.

“We have over 60 million Hausa speakers in Nigeria, so I think we have a target audience we have to try to reach,” she said.

Girei said her leadership would focus on understanding audience expectations, introducing improvements and positioning Hausa productions for international recognition.

“Our thinking is pan-African; our thinking is the world. Our thinking is now how can Hausa film reach the Oscars. That is the thinking,” she said.

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Looking ahead to the next decade, she expressed her ambition to see Mahanga TV secure three to four Academy Awards, earn international recognition and become a household name among viewers across different age groups.

She said she envisioned a future where Mahanga TV would be the preferred television platform in homes, with both adults and children identifying with its programmes.

The Chief Executive Officer of Mahanga TV, Nuhu Abdullahi Balarabe, said Girei’s appointment was informed by the organisation’s rapid growth and the need for experienced leadership to sustain its progress.

Balarabe explained that he initially served as both Managing Director and CEO but decided to appoint a dedicated Managing Director to oversee the organisation’s daily operations and provide the leadership required to sustain its expanding activities.

He said the organisation needed someone who could provide consistent leadership and maintain its momentum as it continued to grow.

“She is well experienced, and I’m sure she will use that experience to take the organisation further from where it is,” he said.

Balarabe disclosed that Mahanga TV had recorded progress beyond its initial expectations within three months of launching, attributing the achievement to the dedication of its staff, consultants and advisers.

He said the organisation was expanding its content offerings through original productions and partnerships with independent producers to provide audiences with engaging programmes.

He also urged viewers to continue supporting the station and sharing feedback through its social media platforms and WhatsApp channel, assuring them that the organisation remained open to suggestions as it worked to improve its services.

Reaffirming the organisation’s broader ambition, Balarabe said Mahanga TV was committed to ensuring that Hausa stories, culture and experiences reached audiences across the world.

“We have a beautiful tale happening in Northern Nigeria, and I believe it is only we that can tell our own story. We want to make sure all our stories are told and they reach every part of the world,” he said.

Also speaking, Mahanga TV’s Creative Director and Brand Manager, Abdulbasit Abanikanda, described Girei’s appointment as a timely development that would strengthen the organisation’s management structure and provide better direction for its expanding workforce.

Abanikanda recalled that Mahanga TV started with a team of just three people but had since grown considerably, making the appointment of an experienced manager necessary to coordinate its activities.

He expressed confidence in Girei’s ability to advance the station’s creative vision, noting that her ambition of taking Hausa stories to audiences across the world aligned with the organisation’s objectives.

With Girei’s appointment, Mahanga TV aims to consolidate its early progress, strengthen its content production and expand the reach of Hausa storytelling, creating opportunities for Northern Nigeria’s stories, culture and creative talent to gain wider national and international recognition.

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Kano Governor Nominates Ex- Speaker, Spokesperson as Commissioners

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Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has nominated his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, and a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Balarabe Sa’idu Gani, for appointment as commissioners.

The governor has forwarded their names to the Kano State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.

The Assembly is expected to screen the nominees on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

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In a statement issued on Monday, the Assembly’s spokesperson, Kamaluddeen Sani Shawai, said the legislature had received a formal communication from Governor Yusuf requesting the screening of the two nominees.

He added that the exercise would be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Gani served as Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly from 2003 to 2007, while Bature currently serves as the governor’s spokesperson.

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2027: Rep Abubakar Kabir Bichi holds strategic meeting with Kano lawmakers

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The Chairman, House of representatives committee on appropriations Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, has convened a meeting of all APC State Assembly Members and 40 Candidates in the upcoming 2027 General elections, led by the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jibril Ismail Falgore.

Crucial issues were discussed on how best to coordinate their campaigns programs to deliver the APC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

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The meeting was held at his Bichi office, Sunday evening 1st November 2026.

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