As 2024 rounds up and the yuletide around the corner, motorists in Kano, Kaduna and Katsina states have decried the poor state of road infrastructure in the states.
A cross section of the motorists, commuters and stakeholders bore their minds in a survey conducted in the states.
They decried that the dilapidated state of most of the roads in the state was hugely responsible for the recurring road traffic crashes, often resulting in massive losses of lives and property.
According to them, the obnoxious spike in the number of the usually fatal crashes could be drastically curbed if the roads are improved upon.
In Kano State, motorists and commuters expressed concern over the deteriorating state of roads in the state, urging both the state and federal authorities to take urgent action.
Key roads highlighted for immediate repair include the Gwarzo-Katsina, Kano-Maiduguri, and some sections of the Kano-Zaria highways, as well as several major township roads.
They bemoaned how what should be short trips now take considerably longer time to cover, citing the increasing difficulty in navigating the city’s streets due to potholes and lack of proper maintenance.
Some of them who spoke about the situation of the roads lamented the frequent delays and congestion caused by the poor condition of the roads.
A driver, Isa Musa, decried that the situation contributed to accidents and inefficiency in travels.
He pointed out that local roads, including those in Dakata, Kurna, Kumbotso, Mariri, and Unguwa Uku were particularly problematic.
A motorist, Adamu Aminu, said that lack of adequate funding, corruption and mismanagement were also identified as the contributing factors to the bad state of the roads.
He called for increased investment on roads and other infrastructure in the state and the country as a whole.
A commuter and legal practitioner, Abdullahi Sani, urged the government to fix the roads through public-private partnerships.
Mr Sani, who lamented the state of some state and federal roads, called for robust funding for road maintenance, improved management and decentralisation to local governments for better infrastructure upkeep.
Another driver, Baba Aliyu, said the roads had become a yearly battle during the rainy season, adding that their effort was no longer enough to solve the challenges.
A staff member of the Kano Road Maintenance Agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that the state government had invested significant resources in the repair of township roads and interventions on federal roads.
He noted that the agency had rehabilitated over 50 roads and cleared drainages across the metropolis.
The rehabilitated roads included Aminu Kano Way, Lodge Road, Tarauni Road, Airport Road, and the Kano Government House Road, among others.
The federal government recently launched “Operation free our roads.”
The project is a joint initiative between the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency as part of the government’s efforts to prioritise citizens’ needs by improving road infrastructure.
Projects carried out under the various interventions included potholes’ patching, pavement strengthening, repairs of failed sections, limited rehabilitation, bridge and culvert construction, and general maintenance.
In Katsina State, the state government awarded a contract for the total rehabilitation of the Shargalle-Dusti-Ingawa road worth N13.8 billion to boost agriculture and economic activities within communities along the area.
Speaking at the launch of the project in Shargalle, Dutsi Local Government Area, Governor Dikko Radda, said that the project was awarded to MotherCat firm, with one-year duration.
He said that the road, encompassing a stretch of 39 kilometers, starts from Shargalle, in Dutsi LGA to Ingawa LGA of the state.
Mr Radda said, “The road was first constructed by the former Governor of the defunct Kaduna State, late Alhaji Balarabe Musa.
“The road is crucial for connectivity and economic development of our communities. I am aware of the challenges being faced by the residents and travellers along this vital road.”
According to the governor, the poor condition of the road has not only hampered movement of people, but also adversely affected the trade, agriculture and other socio-economic activities in our communities.
Mr Radda said, “It has become imperative for us to take this decisive action to restore this lifeline in its former glory. Rehabilitation is a key component of Building Your Future Agenda, to enhance infrastructure development across the state.
“Good roads not only facilitate transportation of goods and services, but also foster economic growth by attracting investments, creating jobs and improving access to markets.”
According to Mr Radda, the government had already paid 40 per cent of the contract sum to the contractor.
He urged the contractor to execute a quality job by complying with the stipulated construct guidelines.
In his remarks, on behalf of traditional rulers in the area, the District Head of Dutsi, who is also the Marusan Katsina, Lawal Sani, commended the government for awarding the road project.
He explained that the road was constructed during the period of the late governor of the old Kaduna State, Musa, and it was not rehabilitated until now.
Mr Sani noted that it was only the former President, late Umaru Musa Yar’adua, who reconstructed a collapsed bridge on the road when he was the state governor.
The Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Sani Magaji, said that the road would boost socio-economic activities in the areas.
He assured that the ministry would ensure that the contractor adhered strictly to the terms of the contract’s agreement.
The contractor, Maroun Ghostine, promised to do a quality job within the stipulated period.
In Kaduna State, some residents commended efforts of the state government in the rehabilitation of some roads within the metropolis.
The residents, including private and commercial vehicle owners, said although some of the roads were yet to be attended to, government efforts deserved commendation.
Lazarus Anche, who resides in Barnawa, said the present administration was ‘doing well’ especially with the rehabilitation of the Kaduna township roads.
He said, “We are happy that at least the township roads are being attended to, especially with the current rehabilitation of Ahmadu Bello way.”
Ibrahim Hamza, a resident of Karmin Mashi, said that though the township roads were being rehabilitated, equal attention should be accorded to rural areas.
He said, “Our farmers in some of the local government areas in Kaduna State face serious challenges in transporting farm produce to the city due to the bad state of the roads.’’
The Kaduna State Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Suleiman Bature, on his part acknowledged that there were ongoing efforts by the government to make the roads better.
He, however, lamented that the slow pace of work made it difficult for the motorists to operate.
He said, “One would not say the governments are completely negligent but they have to wake up from their slumber. Before now, there used to be routine maintenance works especially after the rainy season due to potholes on the roads but now we don’t even know what is happening with FERMA. You should know that we have articulated vehicles that carry heavy loads and ply these roads.
“It is therefore expected that at least, FERMA should carry out maintenance works every six months but that is not the case.”
(NAN)
