Residents task govt on feeder roads

Despite the ongoing rehabilitation of  about 31 roads by the Kaduna Public Works Agency (KAPWA) in Kaduna state, residents of the state have tasked Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero to help out in linking some feeder roads in the state to major ones. ABDULRAHEEM AODU and OJO SOLA OLUSEGUN write on the ongoing works and the clamour of the residents

As a state that borders seven other states (Niger, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Plateau and Nasarawa), Kaduna is surrounded by several road networks, apart from being gateway to other northern states.

As an agrarian state with over 70 percent of its residents being farmers who are based in the rural areas, the state can boasts of rural roads that link the cities to the rural areas where a high percentage of the foods consumed in the state are produced.
This makes it imperative for the roads to be kept in good conditions so as  to ensure easy movement of people and their goods.
Kaduna is one of the most populated states in Nigeria.  It has over seven million residents. The high population put pressure on the roads.
Following the constant usage of the roads for several years, some of them have become dilapidated and undulating, forcing motorists to avoid them for fear of endangering their cars and damaging their motorcycles.

The roads in wretched state within the Kaduna metropolis include the Yakubu Gowon Way, Tafawa Balewa Way, Katsina Road, Bida Road, Ibadan Street, Abeokuta Street, all within town, Bachama road in Tudun Wada, Aliyu Makama road in Barnawa, Kakuri after rail and bus stop area, as well as other roads within Ungwar Shanu, Sabo Tasha, Ungwar Romi and Gonin Gora areas.
However, Governor Mukhtar Yero in his effort to deliver on his promise of peace and security, unity and development in the state, concentrated on the development of the road networks to further link the urban centres with rural areas and ease the movement of people and goods within the state.

It is in line with this that the state government through  KAPWA embarked on systematic renewal of the dilapidated roads to make them motorable. The agency is gradually renewing the roads within the metropolis and putting them in order for residents’ usage.
But despite the ongoing works, residents of Nasarawa and Ungwan Maijero/Bayan Dutse have called on the state government to intervene on the respective “link roads” to their communities.

The people of Nasarawa want the Nasarawa-Bypass  rehabilitated to ease their movement and provide an easy link from the community to the Nnamdi Azikiwe expressway bypass, while the people of Ungwan Maijero/Bayan Dutse want their “link road” to the new Patrick Yakowa Way completed to ease the movement of people and goods.
Haruna Goje, a bus driver, told Blueprint that the “bad state” of Nasarawa road has been affecting the movements of the people of the area.

“We are tired.  The poor state of the road has affected us and our businesses seriously. The road is so bad that anytime you pass it would affect your vehicle.
“In fact, a pregnant woman can have premature birth because of the potholes on the road. We want the state government to immediately intervene and help put the road in good order,” he lamented.
Israel Ahmadu, a resident, said the people of Ungwan Maijero and Bayan Dutse are tired of the laterite-filled road that continue to soil them and their vehicles, and turning everything in the environment brick red.

“The road that links Narayi with the new Patrick Yakowa Way was supposed to be a solution to our road challenges, but it has become another problem as the contractor handling the road only poured laterite on the road surface and disappeared.
“Everything in our community is covered with red laterite, even the vehicles passing by and the people in them. We want government to help complete the road and pour asphalt on it, so that it can better serve as link road between Narayi and Yakowa Way,” Ahmadu said.

Responding to the request, the Director General on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, said the government was a listening and proactive one that want the best for its people and would do everything possible to provide them with dividends of democracy.
“Kaduna state government has taken steps on both roads. The UNTL- Nasarawa – Flour Mill road to western bypass (Nnamdi Azikiwe expressway) has been awarded to COEC Construction Company and work is ongoing on it in earnest, soon the people will have a new road to enjoy.

Also, the Ungwar Maigero/Bayan Dutse road has been awarded but the state faced some financial challenges last year due to some debts that this administration met on ground, but the contractor has been remobilised and work would soon recommence on the road to enable its completion soon,” he explained.
However,  Governor Yero has promised that all ongoing road construction would be completed this year, to further link up most areas within the state.

“According him,  a total of 519.3km roads were constructed; out of which, 305.3km roads were surface-dressed and 214km were asphalted. The achievement so far stands at 55% completion.
“Our objective is to complete all ongoing roads construction across the state in line with our administration’s policy on completion of all projects initiated by past administrations for the benefit of our people.”
He added that contract for the 9km Kudenda Road network in Chikun Local Government Area has been completed and the access road to a proposed thermal plant at Kudenda Industrial Area has been completed.

“The construction of 4th bridge of 252m span across River Kaduna and the road approaches to the bridge of 10km length dual carriageway have been completed. Completion of these projects have eased up the protracted congestion in the North-South traffic within Kaduna metropolis.
“The construction of the 4.2km road networks within the Kaduna State University have reached about 96% completion, while the dualisation of the zonal police headquarters, Kafanchan, to Kaduna State University campus, Kafanchan, has reached 60% completion.

“Construction of the 34km roads in Kaura and Zangon Kataf Local Government Areas are at 64% completion. Construction of 6.6km road networks within the Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya campus, located in Jema’a Local Government Area has reached 96% completion, while the additional works for dualisation has reached 60% completion.
“Contract for the 5km Gidan Mana Township Road in Kachia Local Government Area was awarded in October, 2012. The progress of work is now 70% completion. Contract for the 34.2km road in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area has reached 65%.

“The 6.5km Kofar Gayan-Jos Road located in Zaria Local Government Area, the contractor has achieved 77% progress of work. Constructions of Gangara Township Roads have reached 77% with a completion of the first coat surfacing, while work on the second coat is ongoing,” Yero explained.