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.

” 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.

The Management of Hikima Radio & TV, Kano, hereby announces some strategic changes in its leadership and departmental structure. These changes take immediate effect and are aimed at strengthening operations and improving the quality of service delivery across the station.

After careful consideration, Management has approved the following appointments:
Mr. Auwal Mohd. Abdulaziz has been appointed Acting Station Manager with immediate effect and will assume all duties and responsibilities of the office.
Ms. Zainab Namadi Haruna will temporarily oversee the Programs Department, in addition to her current role as Head of News and Current Affairs.
Mr. Mubarak Auwal has been appointed Acting Head of the Political Unit and New Media with immediate effect.
Veteran journalist, Muhammad Musa Muhammad Inyaa, will continue to serve as Acting Managing Director.

Management reaffirms its commitment to growth, professionalism, and periodic restructuring where necessary. These decisions align with our vision to sustain excellence, innovation, and high standards in broadcasting at Hikima Radio & TV.

By BALA BATURE KARAMI

Stage is set for the Executive Secretary, Kano State History and Culture Bureau, Arc Ahmad Abba Yusuf, for an Award of Excellence, among many selected, screened and chosen, for an Award concerning the protection of our history and culture around Nigerian communities, through established state agencies.

An amalgamated and just infused together spaces, of different platforms under the aegis of Protection of African Culture Forum (PACUF), based in Edo state, reaches an advanced stage for the presentation of Awards of different categories, to some selected and lucky Nigerians, who play important role in promoting and protecting Nigerian history and culture, in the year 2025.

Chief Executive Officers of states’ history and culture departments or agencies are one of the categories chosen for the proposed Award of Excellence in the area. Kano’s Executive Secretary of the History Bureau, Arc Ahmad, is among the top prospective Awardees, for this distinguishing recognition among other selected Nigerians.

From the preliminary report of the assessment, it is hinted that, the Forum is keen about how Kano’s ES makes headway in preserving the ancient history of Kano and the culture of the citizens, altogether.

The research shows that, Kano Bureau was neglected for many years by the previous administrations in the state. But the coming of the present Governor, Eng Abba Kabir Yusuf, who appointed Arc Ahmad as the Executive Secretary of the Board, makes rooms for sustainable development in the area. As it also deepens commitment and clarity of purpose of the current administration in history and culture spaces.

With the Award, it means, the state could attract foreign intervention from governments and other development partners, in the area of cultural exchange and exploration in the culture of global communities.

Where Kano could create corridor for such engagements. With this, we can also understand that, an Award for Arc Ahmad, means an Award for Kano state.

The Award, according to my source of information, will take place in Lagos or Abuja, for wider media coverage. Not minding where the event would take place, the main objective of the situation is, Kano, is becoming another turning point for cultural preservation and historical advancement. For the overall development of our dear nation.

As such, Kano is fast becoming a melting pot where cultural efforts and historical benevolence are well protected, preserved and presented for better consumption. Whereas the state government’s effort is being rekindled, re-engineered, reinforced, redirected and rejuvenated. Kudos to the people’s Governor, Eng Yusuf.

Arc Ahmad’s sterling qualities, as an Executive Secretary, creates other opportunities for the Bureau in incorporating the agency with other similar agencies across the nation. As well as breaking global barriers, that were hitherto in a state of comatose.

Ahmad’s involvement in making the agency greater under the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, keeps our history and culture alive and competing with other administrative spaces in governance.

When history and culture are kept alive, there is every likelihood that, society becomes upright, enduring endearing and progressive in its own right.

The research believes that with the kind support the Bureau is getting from Governor Yusuf, Kano History and Culture Bureau would bounce back to glory. With Arc Ahmad, the current state administration, is capable enough to rewrite history of feats achieved from all standpoints.

Karami writes from Abuja
06/02/2026