Good, bad roads of Kano

• Residents groan, as city becomes construction site

From Desmond Mgboh, Kano

The metropolis of Kano is undergoing a facelift in recent times. Motorists driving from Murtala Muhammed Way to Government House would attest to this.

The flower beds that dot the lanes of the way and the fledging plants that lay between the lanes are all bold testimonies of this wonderful beautification exploit. Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya, said government recently awarded N40.8 billion contracts for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of metropolitan roads.

The projects cut across Fagge, Nassarawa, Gwale, Kano Municipal, Taurauni, Dala and Ungogo local governments. The commissioner said the contracts included Tudun-Yola-Gwarzo Road and the Dansaudau By-pass, awarded for N1.9 billion, and Jar-Madobi Road, for N1.323 billion. Rehabilitation of Sabo-Barkin Zuwo Road and Muhammadu Buhari Road, awarded for N2.014 billion and N4.108 billion, respectively.

Others under construction in the metropolis include Rijiyar Lemo Road, for N494 million, erosion works at Kwanar Durba-Fammar-Kunau-Kure Road, at N205.983 million, and Airport Road, at N5.956 billion. He said: “The facelift of these metropolitan roads is intended to improve road connectivity, reduce traffic congestion and improve the overall quality of roads in the state.

“Government is also investing N13.3 billion in the construction of the Rogo-Bari-Falgore-Mahangi roads in Rogo LG and N6.9 billion for Panda-Hamdullahi-Albasu-Salkwayan Dutse roads, in Albasu LG. These roads are prioritised for their significant economic and social importance to the local communities.

“These roads will facilitate smoother movement, improve driving, boost business activities and enhance the transportation of goods from farms to markets, thereby simulating the economy.

“The ambition of government towards quality roads is attested to by the size of the 2025 budget on road infrastructure and by the revival of some of the abandoned five-kilometre road projects. These uncompleted road projects, commissioned across the 44 LGs, were initiated by the Kwankwaso administration sometime around 2014/2015.

Throughout the eight-year tenure of former governor Abdulahi Ganduje, the uncompleted road projects were simply disregarded. Despite the seemingly impressive efforts on the construction of the roads, Daily Sun reports that many quarters and residential areas are held hostage by deplorable and impassable roads. Many are pothole-filled, while others have developed gullies that are as deep as gutters!

Sabon-Gari is one such area. The area is a landscape of old and young building structures. A rich source of government revenue and an area predominated by mostly non-indigenes the area suffers from the absence of basic infrastructure, especially roads and culverts.

Investigation showed that over 70 per cent of the roads in this part of the metropolis were constructed by the military administration of Col. Dominic Oneya.

Since the dawn of democracy, successive administrations have paid lip service to the quality of roads in this area. The current administration is no different from their successors in this regard. Reports indicated that the following roads are in deplorable condition: Sarkin Yaki Road, Ballat Huges Road, Onistha Road, Ijebu Road, Hausa by Igbo Road, Aba Road, Warri Road and Enugu Road.

Others: Abeokuta Road, Aitkin Road, Middle Road, New Road, Emir Road, Yoruba Road, Church Road, Niger Road, Sani-Giwa Road, Sanusi Road, Sanyolu Road, Odutola Egbe Road, Aminu Road, Abedi Road and Gold Coast Road. Almost the whole of No Man’s Land area, vast quarters of residential structures are suffering from the menace.

A resident, Bitrus Biquay, said: “I have to change my fairly-used tyres often. These patch-patch and jaga-jaga roads are so devilish. They destroy the tyres and the entire shock absorbers.”

If the roads in Sabon-Gari are bad, those of Pamisau/Jaba in Ungogo LG are hell on earth. Driving from the patches of Airport Road, down to Pounded Yam Junction, the bumps begin to tell a frightening story of decay and abandonment.

At Pounded Junction proper, the traffic crawls and comes to a near halt, arising from the edgy gallops and potholes at this post. The same tortuous nightmare awaits motorists as they drive down to Sabon-Titi Junction of the same road. The junction leads to the Federal Government Export Processing Zone. But the road to get there is full of agony.

According to 30-year-old Bello Abubakar: “Here and now, our road is bad, very bad. But it is terrible when they offload the flood of water blocked somewhere inside the airport.

“We have not had the ugly experience this year. But in previous years, once they unleash that water tsunami after the rain, that volume of water, it is devastation and destruction all the way. The whole road will be like a flowing river and flood will be everywhere.

“We are appealing to Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf to come to our assistance, to save us from the daily experience of bad roads. Some people said this is a Federal Government road. I am not sure which information is correct. But I am appealing to the state government to relieve us of the yoke, pending the intervention of the Federal Government.

“I am also using this opportunity to appeal to the member representing Ungogo Federal Constituency to raise our plights on the floor of the House of Representatives. He has not done much for us members of his constituency. This is an opportunity for him to better his poor records.”