How Residents Suffer Decade of Tragedies As 5km Roads Waste away in Kano

How Residents Suffer Decade of Tragedies As 5km Roads Waste away in Kano

By Rabiu Musa

Rural communities in Bunkure, Dawakin Tofa, Kibiya, Rano, and Riming Gado Local Government Areas, access to good roads is a decade long dream that never come to fruition.

In this investigation, Rabiu Musa revealed how residents suffer loss of lives and properties, post-harvest losses, and an increased in transportation cost on 5 kilometer (km) roads that connects their communities.

The 5km roads in Bunkure, Dawakin Tofa, Kibiya, Rano, and Riming Gado LGAs has impoverished most of the agrarian communities, enduring the weight of their produce across dangerous potholes.
Farmers, the most affected, said that the condition of the roads has resulted in heavy losses, exposing them to risks as they seek access to markets in Kano metropolis and beyond.

In Sub-saharan Africa, post-harvest food losses are estimated to be worth $4 billion per year, enough to feed at least 48 million Nigerians, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 2019 report.

The organization also stated that an estimated of 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted globally every year, which is projected as one third of all food produced for human consumption.

A farmer in Maratai town, Dawakin Tofa LGA, Mal. Hamza Dodo, 37, revealed that the situation of the road does not only pose a challenge to farming activities, but it also affect trading and other economic activities in the communities.

He said: “The harrowing effect of the bad roads in these communities escalated beyond the smallholder farmers’’.
Other residents and commuters plying these roads are also suffering from untold hardships and accidents culminating in the death of community members, loss of properties and labour hours due to the dilapidated state of the roads.”

Mr. Ibrahim Salisu, 32, is a graduate of Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria who ventured into farming told this reporter that after his graduation, he worked briefly as a store keeper in the Nigerian Bottling Company, the producer of 7Up, Pepsi, Mountain Dew and other Beverages but had to resign in 2021 to venture into small scale farming.

At the end of 2022 harvest year, Mr. Salisu eagerly anticipated transporting his farm produce to the popular grains market in Dawanau town.

However, the fate that awaited him was far from his imagination. The chipping of the 5 km road network in Dawakin Tofa stopped at Maratai town, disconnecting communities in Gwaiji, Santa gwaida, Yanshado, Rimin dako and Korambani among others where Danmallam’s farm bore bountiful harvest.

He said: ‘’The truck conveying my farm produce crashed in one of the notorious dilapidated spot around Maratai axis, less than 1kilometer from my farm, which led to the loss of 50 per cent of the maize harvest, commensurate to N700,000’’.

Not so many were lucky as Mr. Salisu, because had Mal. Fatima Audu, 52, known that death was lurking around the corner to snatch her 12-year-old daughter, Mama Audu, she would not have allowed her to follow her brother, Ibrahim Audu, 22, to farm, where she slipped and drowned while crossing a collapsed bridge on one of the abandoned 5km road link, leaving her family heartbroken.

While speaking to this reporter, the grief stricken mother could not barely held tears of sorrow that mingled through her eyes. She described the death of her daughter as ‘’wound that cuts so deep.’’

She said: ‘’The incident occurred in 7th June, 2021 at Rarin, where the construction of the 5 km road networks was abandoned’’.

“I was told that the young Fatima slipped and fall into big pothole which led to her untimely death’’.

“Two years on, the sense of her unavoidable death still linger and is one of the constant source of anguish for me, and nothing could ever fill the void left by her death.’’

Mal. Sarki Aminu, 63, is a father figure in Nasarawa community of Dawakin Tofa, said although about 88 per cent of the work has been done by the contractor, still, ‘’there is a dire need to complete the road, particularly on axis that disconnected communities about 1 kilometer from Rarin river’’.

‘’Earth work has been completed in some links, including; Nasarawa Badako, Sabon gari, Sani Dambo and Ali Sukezo streets, while the road linking communities to the main Dawakin Tofa town was half-way tarred’’.

This reporter observed that the CCECC Nigeria Limited, handling the project has completed construction of the dual carriage road from the entry of the town to the western gate, with streetlights well fixed.

In Kibiya LGA, the road, about 1 km from the Islamic Centre which ringed the ancient town linger unfinished. Without a doubt, the poor road network has remained a major socio-economic challenge as resentment brewed in the communities.

Speaking with residents, motorists, and commuters in the town, it was observed that the respondents had a serious concern regarding the present situation of the road, particularly smallholder farmers.
While some residents appropriated blame to the immediate past administration, a handful of others threw direct blame to the current administration.

According to Isah Babayo Kibiya, a smallholder farmer from Kahu town, said ‘’the communities are directing the blame to the present administration in Kano because the project was their brain child’’.

A tour around the communities in the local government showed no trace of road construction equipment on project site or anywhere around the communities.

The abandoned road connecting links of the project were; Kofar Arewa to Kofar Kudu, Kan Kwana to Bakin Kasuwa, Kofar Gabas to Kofar Yamma and road links that surrounded Kibiya General Hospital.
Mal. Abubakar Inuwa, 40, Chairman of Kibiya Youth Concern expressed doubt if the contractor will ever return to site, given the number of promises received from different politicians when they came for campaign as he shook his head, a sign of resigning to fate to take its course.

Residents Appeal to Kano Gov’t for Prompt Payment of Compensation

This reporter observed that the 5km road project in Kibiya LGA caused the demolition of dozens of houses to make way for dual lane, but 10 years after the residents of Kofar Arewa to Kofar Kudu communities who sacrificed their properties, they are yet to receive compensation from government and the road is abandoned.

Dr. Isyaku Muhammad, 45, who spoke on behalf of the people of the community who are yet to receive the compensation said the first batch of compensation took place in 2014, while land owners in the second batch received their payment in 2016.

He further expressed his displeasure over the years of delay in payment and urged the state government to urgently approve the compensation as some of the victims had been squatting with their relatives and neighbourhood more than 10 years after the demolition took place.

According to him, ‘’Completing this project will enhance economic activities in the communities.’’

Similarly, in Bunkure LGA, asphaltic lines started from the local government Secretariat and ended about 2 km at Sharfadi hospital, with less than 1 Kilometer of earth work adjacent Bunkure Goats Market that link commuters and motorists to the main Bunkure town.

‘’Help, we are disconnected from the rest of the people in Kano south’’

Communities of Sabon ruwa, Mashaura, Kuluki, Bakon mazana, and Kuruma among others had not been enjoying best times.

A close observation showed that the communities are not only been cut off from accessing good roads, particularly for transporting farm produce to markets, like; in Rano, Tudun Wada, Durba among others but had also endure trauma due to the poor state of the road.

Mal. Ibrahim Jatu, 56, from Bukkoki town said: ‘’When we saw tractors clearing the road several years ago, we heaved a sigh of relief, as we assumed that our suffering will soon end.

‘’Our activities began to take a downward turn when the contractor reached some advanced level of art work till the project was finally abandoned.’’

‘’He also complained that economic activities have been paralyzed, while calling on government to come to their aid.

Another resident, Kabiru Danladi, 21, said: ‘’the road is beyond terrible when it rains.
“You’ll be lucky not to be tossed in the mud by commercial motorcycles, who have double their fares especially in the face of the recent fuel subsidy removal.”

In Rano LGA, the road project started from Danlami filling station and linked to the main Kibiya road. The project, handled by Bindigari Construction Company has no solid of 2 kilometer in the local government.

A 39 years old food vendor, Malama Sadiya Isah complained bitterly about the road condition.

According to her, repairing the road network should be the top priority of authorities because almost all the road side businesses had been pushed out of market along the corridor.

Mrs. Isah said: ‘’I used to have a thriving market until Rano 5 km road project happened to us.

‘’Customers are always complaining about dust on the plates and spoons and I can’t afford to hire a shop around here because of the exorbitant prices.’’

Similarly, some motorists are compelled to spend productive hours on a few minute drive due to bad spots of the damaged roads around Kibiya axis.

According Sani Muaazu of Faran, the abandoned road project has become dreaded particularly to pregnant women and asthmatic patients owing to the potholes and cloud of dust at the uncompleted site.

He said the bad road had brought social and economic activities to its knee, putting the education of children in the affected areas on hold.

Another resident, Musbahu Abubakar, 18, a secondary school student, complained about delay witnessed on the road every morning during school days.

According to him, ‘’several commercial motorcycles drivers avoid plying the road, and the very few that come by charge us higher than the normal price’’.

Mr. Abubakar said sometimes we have to leave our houses earlier than expected otherwise we risk getting to school late.

A Medical Doctor from Rano General Hospital, who wished not be mentioned because of fear of victimization recounted his experience with his vehicle on the road.
He said the condition of the road has badly affected his salary.

‘’My car develops a fault after I got transferred from Kano municipal and had to travel through this road to go to Rano General Hospital.’’

He recalled how he became a regular customer to mechanics.
‘’At first, I thought it was my personal mechanic who was cheating on me, until the time when I changed 5 mechanics in one month, I got to realized the actual problem, this has contributed a lot in getting to office late’’.

A commercial driver, Usman Dauda, 24, who spoke about the issues motorists face on the infamous road, gave a hint as to why commercial drivers and riders charge more on the road, particularly from Kibiya to Rano.

Mr. Usman said ‘’many passengers were thinking that we are cheating on them, which is not true. We are the ones at the forefront of this harsh reality.

‘’Each time there is a heavy downpour and flood on the road, it used to damage our engines and other parts of our vehicles’’.
‘’Many times, our vehicles spend days with the mechanics which results in us spending more money without having income for days.

Many of us have families, and have to also keep paying money to the vehicle owners without considering whether the vehicle spend days with mechanics or it works’’.

While in Rimin Gado, the mood of the town, especially at Karofin Yashi, is that of fear and despair. A bridge linking thousands of people has become a harbinger of death, sorrow and untold hardship.

The bridge, which is the only feeder road linking communities from Tamawa to Gulu, Maigari, Dawakin Gulu, Yalwan Danziyal and host of others had collapsed bringing social and economic activities to hold.

A resident of Karofin Yashi, Babangida Danlami said since the collapse of the bridge, the communities continued to suffer in silence.

‘’No vehicle has been able to drive across the bridge for a long period of time’’.
A site visit to the bridge showed the hardship several residents are passing through, with women, children, persons living with disabilities crawling through the bridge to have access to the only road in the communities.

Aminu Hashim, a farmer from Gulu said the bridge collapsed about 8 years ago, isolating villages with larger communities.
“it’s a pity that successive government keep promising to us that the bridge will be fixed whenever they came for political campaign,’’ he added.

Hashim begged Kano state government to come to their aid.

Malama. Shafaatu Habib, 56, a processed Moringa seller, said she had incurred losses at the spot of the collapsed bridge.
“At a particular time, my entire tray of Moringa got soaked as a result of heavy rain which impeded residents from accessing the bridge.

The 5km Roads, Streetlights, Bridge Projects in Kano

In 2013, the administration of Engr. Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso during budget presentation to the state House of assembly announced the allocation of N80bn to construct 5km dual carriageways with streetlights in all the 44 local government areas of the state.

The project was a joint venture between the Kano state government and the 44 local government councils. The former is expected to contribute 10 per cent of the total contract sum, while the latter is to offset the 90 per cent.

Similarly, on 16 Janaury, 2014, the governor presented additional N25bn for the completion of the dualized roads with streetlights in the 44 local governments in the state, which according to him, ‘’were at the various phases of completion’’.

With the release of the sum of the N25bn, the projects were expected to have been completed but 10 years on, the projects were abandoned.

Physical Checks in Bunkure, Rano, Kibiya L.Gs, revealed that the projects bear insignia of abandonment. Most of the poured chipping washed off by rain, with the exception of Bunkure where about 1 kilometer of asphaltic lane from Secretariat to Sharfadi hospital is in good shape.

Observation showered that the contractors were unable to complete more than 3 kilometers of asphaltic lane.

In Bunkure, the contract was awarded to Road and Bridge Nigeria Limited, FOBAC Nigeria Limited in Kibiya and Bindigari Construction Company Limited in Rano area council and were clearly abandoned.

Unlike the other local governments, in Dawakin Tofa area council, the contract was first awarded to Rocad Construction Nigeria Limited and revoked by Kano
state government in 2021 and re-award it to CCECC Nigeria Limited at the cost of N651,844,966.51 million.

Investigation revealed that about 85 per cent of the project was completed and streetlights fixed and is being used by members of the communities.

Some residents said that the completed sites of the project has brought some relief to both communities as they travel smoothly to transact their businesses.

The Rimin Gado Bridge Project

In 2021 approved budget, Kano state government awarded a contract for the renovation of Kwanar Yashi Bridge in Rimin Gado area council, with a contract number (23030113), at the tune of N10 million.

Two years on, investigation showered that the contract has not been executed.

The funds expended on the 5km road projects

Engr. Saidu Ibrahim Garga, is an expert in the construction industry. In an interview, Mr. Saidu, who doubles as the Chief Executive Officer, Garga & Brothers Nigeria Limited said ‘’abandonment of project worth over N100bn, particularly with the attendant consequences in the host communities is very disheartening’’.

‘’Contractors had a way of foot dragging a project for years even when reasonable amount of money was disbursed as mobilization fee’’.

He noted that the 5km projects was probably abandoned by contractors, capitalizing on the impasse between the immediate past administration and the government that awarded the project in 2013.

Mr. Saidu said that ‘’it’s a tragic to hear about accidents and loss of lives and properties due to the abandoned 5km projects’’.

He further called on the present administration to properly investigate the issue, including funds expended to contractors and the level of work done by each contractor.

This commitment, according to him ‘’will prevent further harm and create a safer environment for the residents’’.

A Freedom of Information (FOI), request sent to the office of the Accountant General, Kano state on 20th July, 2023 for details of budgetary allocations and amount of funds collected by contractors within the period under review on the 5km road projects in Bunkure, Rano, Kibiya, D/Tofa and the collapsed bridge in Rimin Gado was not responded to after the stipulated 7 days as enshrined by the law.
Similarly, another request was sent to the Kano state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure on the same 20th of July, for details of the contract, names of contractors, contact details and their addresses, as well as funds releases was also not responded.

However, on 27th July at about 10:20pm, this reporter received a call claiming to be from the ministry of Works and Infrastructure, inquiring about the FoI submitted to the ministry.

After some deliberation for about 3 minutes, 2 seconds on the content of the request between the caller and our reporter, the discussion ended.

On 11 August, our reporter call the number two times but got no response. On the same day, this reporter went to the ministry for follow-up and was told that the letter was with the Director of Legal Services and he wasn’t in office.

The abandoned projects continue to weave a tragic tale. To some communities in the 5 local governments, it’s a haunting reminder of what happens when public properties are left to crumble.

For Mr. Ibrahim Salisu of Dawakin Tofa, Mal. Ibrahim Jatau of Bunkure, Mal. Abubakar Inuwa of Kibiya, Sadiya Isah and Mal. Shafa’atu find themselves trapped in a web of loss, leaving behind a trail of heartbreak and ruin, particularly for persons living with disabilities, like Umar Habu of Karofin Yashi, Rimingado.

This publication was supported by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) and funded by the MacArthur Foundation under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability Project (CMEDIA) of which Stallion Times is a member.