By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
Kaduna State Government led by Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, on Tuesday approved the renaming of 28 structures/roads after individuals who have served in various capacities in the state.
The governor announced this at the unveiling of renamed public buildings and roads at various locations within Kaduna Metropolis.
He said, it was to honour them and pay a well deserved tribute to them, 26 of these structures/roads are within Kaduna Metropolis, one in Zaria and one in Kafanchan Governor el-Rufai also described the exercise as an opportunity to appreciate history.
Speaking at the event, he said, “our government started the policy of street naming and house numbering to make it easy for letters to be delivered taxes and buses to take people to their home this has been implemented in the last few years,” he said.
The governor said that the urban renewal programme has added agencies to achieving further results in this and they have continued to do that.
“We use this as an opportunity as a chance to honour those who have served this state and our country or humanity at large.
“Honouring those who have served is an obligation every set of leaders holds to those who came before, sometimes sudden and unexpected event make it impossible to pay deserved tributes in their life times.
“But it is important to seek to honour people and their service when they are still around, preferably when they are no longer in their offices, this exercise is also an opportunity to respect history and to clarify street names,” he said.
Governor el-Rufai sighted Waff Road which was named after West African Frontier Force as part of history of Kaduna, therefore, the name of the street has been reverted back from Muhammadu Buhari Way to Waff Road and extended right to the end of road to cover the little space that was called Kashim Ibrahim Road up to the cemetery.
Explaining further, he said, “Muhammadu Buhari Way is now the road that links from former Zaria Road to Ahmadu Bello Way Stadium, Waff Road now is the name of the street that starts from NEPA Roundabout and extends to the end of the road, including what was called Kashim Ibrahim Road before.
“We have decided to recognize the service of the first and only governor of the Northern Region, Sir Kashim Ibrahim by naming Sokoto Road that links Kashim Ibrahim House as Kashim Ibrahim Road.
He noted that the event is the first stage, “we are naming several public buildings as
Kaduna State Secretariat – Maccido Dalhatu House, renamed Malam Maccido Dalhat, he was the second Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Head of Service (HOS) of Kaduna State between 1975-1979″.
The Ministry of Health building was renamed as Dora Akanya Maude Miller House, to recognize the first and longest serving Commissioner of Health, also, the only female member of the North Central State executive council.
“As part of the foundation she has laid in Kaduna State, the state has a female deputy governor and out of seventeen commissioners in the state executive council, nine are female and only eight are men it is all the foundation she has laid.
“Consequentially, the administrators building, where the administrators of Kaduna historical occupied us their office, and we are naming that Magajin Gari Sambo House.
“He was the first administrator of the Kaduna Local Authority Government and the same time the first district head of Kaduna before the appointment of administrators and I am very pleased to observe that the father of the Emir of Zazzau, late Magajin Gari Nuhu Bamali was once the administrator of Kaduna Capital Territory Authority as well”.
He further said the Kaduna Investment House was named as Mohammed Namadi Sambo Complex.
“He is the only person from Kaduna State to be the vice president of Nigeria, it is the highest ranking Kaduna State citizen to achieve high political office, he was also once governor of Kaduna State where he has some great ideas, some of which the state is still implementing.
“Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority (KDSPPA) renamed as Barnabas Yusuf Bala Complex, late Architect Barnabas Yusuf Bala aka Bantex served as former Chairman Kaura Local Government and Deputy Governor of Kaduna State 2015-2019.
“As well as College Road along Sardauna Memorial College, ungwan Dosa, after now known as AVM Usman Muazu Road, former military governor of Kaduna State.
“Zaria Administrative office – Sir Sharwood Smith House was renamed as Sir Bryan Sharwood Smith aka Mai Wandon Karfe, who was the last colonial Governor of Northern Nigeria and District Officer of Zaria when the Emir of Zazzau Ibrahim Kwasau died in 1936.
Kaduna State High Court, Mohammed Lawal Uwais Complex was renamed as Chief Judge Mohammed Lawal Uwais, who was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria from 1995 until 2006 and a former Chief Judge of Kaduna State.
The governor added that his administration will continue to recognize those that have served the state as this will encourage young people on how this great people served.
