Why Kwankwaso’s 5Km road project remains neglected
The famous 5-kilometre road project is a brainchild of the immediate past Kano State Governor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso. According to the contract specifications, a 5km dual carriageway with streetlights and culverts are to be constructed in each of 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.
The project, awarded in 2011, was abandoned even before the expiration of Kwankwaso’s tenure in May 2015.
Consequently, when Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje came on board, it was expected that he would continue with the project and possibly complete it, owing to his declaration of continuation, consolidation and fine-tuning as the cardinal principles of his government. However, three years after, the project is yet to see the light of day.
Ganduje had in June this year explained that when he took over government, Kano was getting below N5bn monthly as its federal allocation which was grossly inadequate to even pay workers’ salaries, not to talk of executing capital projects. This is in addition to the general economic crunch in the country.
The governor, who lamented that the 44 local government councils expected to contribute 90 per cent of the contract sum were financially broke, said despite the constraints, his administration had resolved to continue with the project for the benefit of Kano people.
Our correspondent, who visited the project sites in some local governments, observed that while in some areas work has reached various stages of completion, in other places, the abandoned roads have become death traps.
In Gwarzo, Malam Munzali Auta Gwarzo told that “We have recorded several accidents along the abandoned road and many lives were lost. The project has also blocked our water ways, thereby causing serious flood in the area.”
In Kiru local government area, Alhaji Ibrahim Bashir Kiru told our correspondent that the 5-kilometre project was not their priority, noting that their priority was rehabilitation of Fanshekara-Kiru-BebejiMadobi road. “We are also in dire need of good healthcare facility and good drinking water.”
However, in Dambatta local government, Malam Buhari Shehu, a commercial motorbike rider, said “We have to thank God Almighty because the project has reached a completion level. What remains are finishing touches when compared to projects in other local government areas.”
In Gezawa local government, residents said the dualisation of the road had reduced road accident in the area. Alhaji Ibrahim Bello said prior to the dualisation of the road, the Gezawa Market area was known for frequent road accident especially on market days, but construction of the dual carriageway had reduced accidents in the area.