As Governor Nasir el-Rufai rolls out the bulldozers in pursuit of his urban renewal programme in Kaduna state, ABDULRAHEEM AODU writes on the pains and gains of making Kaduna great.
Making Kaduna great again
Making Kaduna great again has been the slogan of Governor Nasir el-Rufai during his campaign for his first term in office in 2015, and while the demolitions he carried out as FCT Minister between 2003 and 2007 was used to de-campaign him, it only won him more supporters with an accompanying sobriquet of ‘sai ma ruso’ (only the demolisher).
Though, el-Rufai’s first four years was not devoid of developmental programmes, his second term promised much more, particularly with his administration’s resolve to carry out renewal of urban areas in the state; mainly the three major towns of Kaduna, Zaria and Kafanchan.
Urban renewal
This renewal, according to the All Progressives Congress (APC) manifesto, centred on education, health, infrastructure, especially roads, housing and potable water. While citizens eagerly await the renewal, some of them, especially those that would be affected directly seem unprepared for the pain that precedes the new developments.
According to Kaduna state government’s plans, there are needs to improve old roads and build new ones to further link different parts of the cities, just as the state need to embark on mass housing to address the huge housing deficit faced by its estimated nine million population. Thus, there is need to develop reserved areas and new layouts, while old and unplanned buildings have to give way.
The pains
For those whose houses, farmlands or properties have to give way for the road expansion, new mass housing and other developments, some are compensated with little or no complain, while others who are deemed by government to lack locus standing to complain were only warned to vacate the space.
This second group include residents of Karji, Ungwan Waziri, Baban Saura, Ungwan Maijero, old Kamazou and Janruwa communities in Chikun local government of Kaduna state, where about 300 houses were marked for demolition, while some have been partially demolished with fences, building frontage, building corners, building sides variously brought down by government bulldozers.
According to the community members, bulldozers and pay loaders reportedly romped into their communities past 1:00am one early Friday morning pulling down fences and parts of buildings without any warning, as they alleged that the only warning, handed down in their community, went to owners of containers and containerised shops who were given one week to move them away.
Their offence, according to Blueprint findings, was that they allegedly built on supposed government land meant for housing estate, and they are allegedly not entitled to any compensation because government has paid the owners of the farmlands before acquiring the land.
Residents want engagement
Following the demolition and threat of moving their property hanging on their heads without any direct information from government about what was happening, the residents sought a meeting with Governor el-Rufai over the planned demolition of their houses to find an amicable resolution of the issue.
One of the representatives of the communities and a senior pastor with Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Goodnews Karji, Reverend Musa Istifanus said they are appealing for dialogue with the state government to know who made mistake, what the mistake was and how to resolve the issue because government has not spoken with them directly or through any emissary.
“We were taken aback by what happened late Thursday night to early Friday morning when the demolition started. We wondered who ordered the demolition asked questions but there was no answer. But from the look of things, all fingers point to government.
“We are making appeal that government should give us audience so that we can sit down and talk over this issue because government exists for the people. We have for long acquired land, registered with necessary authorities that enabled us build our houses. We want government to tell us what we did wrong so that we can make amends.
“Government is all about people. We don’t want to create rights, we are appealing so that we can be given the chance to make right what we did wrong and if it is government that is wrong we can say it. This government is our government, we don’t want to confront government and we don’t want government to confront us.”
Another resident, Alhaji Mustapha Mohammed, urged for dialogue with government to know what they did wrong and find a lasting solution that would satisfy all parties, adding that they are for peace and not fight since the government is their government and they believe government wants the best for all the citizens.
Gains
Kaduna has always been one of the most important cities in Nigeria, since the city served as the capital of Northern region, it has continued to play critical roles in Nigeria and today serve unofficially as the political capital of the North. Hence, the need to keep developing it to meet the standard of modern times.
Urban renewal ‘ll change Kaduna
According to the managing director of Kaduna State Roads Agency (KADRA), one of the agencies involved in the Kaduna development, Engr Mohammed Lawal Magaji, the new developments are aimed at making the city one of the best not only in Nigeria but even beyond.
Magaji, who was speaking to stakeholders at a community engagement programme on the new Kawo bridge, a major exit that links Kaduna City to the Northwest and Northeastern parts of the country, said that the present flyover in Kawo is too narrow to accommodate the volume of traffic that passes through it, adding that when completed the new Kawo flyover will be one of the best in the country.
“The base of the flyover is still strong and for this reason, only the top part will be pulled down and reworked completely. Additional roads and three roundabouts will be constructed apart from the flyover. Alternate roads will be provided to ease traffic congestion during the 20-month period of the construction.
‘’A u-turn will be constructed at the last bus stop, so that vehicles don’t need to go to the bridge site before turning. Lafiya road will be the alternative road for Kawo residents who want to go to town. This will reduce traffic pressure at the construction site.”
Magaji assured the stakeholders that compensation will be given to all those whose property will be affected by the project, provided they have valid documents.
Also speaking, Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s political adviser, Mr Ben Kure pleaded with the people of Kaduna state to be patient with the inconveniences that they will experience during the renewal programme. “The Kaduna Urban Renewal Project will change the face of the state in the next few years.’’
Monarch urges community engagement
The district head of Kawo, Alhaji Jibrin Magaji, noted that it is the lack of such community engagements with relevant stakeholders that brought about shoddy implementation of projects in the past and complain from residents.
