Kano-Zaria road: Matters arising
The Abuja to Kaduna highway which was recently repaired to ease traffic for the high and mighty in the country due to the closure of Abuja Airport has been in the news lately, albeit for the wrong reason. The route has assumed notoriety as the haven of dare-devil kidnappers, armed robbers and other shady characters.
I’m not in any way averse to this new positive development, but I’m so much concern about the biased manner in which federal government have been giving preferential treatment in the repair and reconstruction of some highways in the country to the detriment of others, notably Kano-to Zaria highway which has become death-trap, claiming many precious souls almost on daily basis!
Now, given the way Kano-Zaria road have so far been neglected, can we state with certainty that our overwhelming votes for the APC have been justified? I believe the over two Million votes given to the APC in the last general election was nothing more than a lost investment.
Worth noting also, is the fact that Kano to Zaria Highway can only be compared with Lagos to Ibadan expressway in terms of economic importance to the nation. The road serves as linkage between the two most important states in the country. But why it was neglected despite its present dilapidated states of disrepair has so far remained a matter of conjecture.
As I write this, the Lagos-Ibadan highway is undergoing the same processes of repair and reconstruction by the federal government. But in matters of priority, Kano to Zaria also, merited any investment by FG considering the importance of the road to the socio-economic importance of the country and the sacrifices made by Kano people in ensuring the electoral successes of APC administration against a formidable foe!
This important artery besides connecting the nation’s most populous state with the rest of Nigeria; also serves as the route through which agricultural produces, are transported to other parts of the country.
I’m so much inclined to believe that Mr. Fashola was appointed to serves as Minister of Power, Works and Housing by President Buhari for ONLY southern Nigeria? I tend to agree with such widely held notion however weird it may seems given the way the Minister seem to concentrate his attention more on south and paying leap service to the other part of the country!
Kano does not deserve such unfair treatment by the FG, by whatever yardstick one look at the present situation. We deserved to be cajoled and over pampered given our political, economic and electoral values in the country. But if such trends continue, 2019 is not far away. And we have the power of our votes to do away with leaders who are insensitive to our flights as a people.
Kabiru Tsakuwa, Kano.