By Sule Aliyu Bauchi
In February 25th 2021, Bauchi Governror Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad invited his Bayelsa counterpart, Douye Diri to flag off the construction of a 2.8km Shafa Roundabout-Sango-Old Airport project coined as ‘Kaura City’, promising he has no reason to abandon the project commissioned by Diri.
44 months later, the residents of the area who live about two kilometres away from the seat of power –Bauchi Government House have to bear with the brunt of dust, mud and other environmental hazards posed by the abandoned roads.
Although, the project was awarded on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) at the cost of N4.8bn being handled by KK Kingdom Engineering Company.
The company has built part of the drainage which staggered from 2021 to December 2023 with nothing done on the road since January 2024.
Residents of the area have to hold their breath or put on a face mask while using the road.
Our corresspondent observed that erosion has eroded the major part of the laterite laid, making it unusable to the people.
Mr. Abdulkareem Ibrahim, a resident, pleaded with the government to remember the area and save them from the health hazard of the road.
“We are aware that the government has awarded about 30 roads after it flagged off construction of this road. This road is very important. Apart from that, they should think about our health. Those who are asthmatic are having it more difficult to stay in their houses.”
Malama Amina Abubakar, a shop owner who sells groceries, has lost most of her customers due to the deplorable condition of the road. “First, the bike men and keke riders are always reluctant to follow this way, if they do, they over charge. The economic activities here are being affected. We now record low patronage because of this road. One side of the road is abandoned, many trucks have been stocked here,” she said.
Meanwhile, in July 2024, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Galadima, while rolling out the achievements of the Bala Muhammad administration since 2019 at the State Ministerial Briefing, said that the project was not captured under the works being done by the ministry.
When asked about the progress of the work, Galadima said that the ministry could not account for the project it did not award.
Rimawaglobalnews reliably gathered from an official of the Ministry that the Governor had earlier this year summoned the contractor to a meeting in an effort to review the contract agreement and possibly transfer it to another construction company but KK Kingdom shunned the meeting with Bala Muhammad.
“They are feeling big, they were invited to a meeting but to our surprise they didn't show up. If you notice, His Excellency has refused to give them another road project to handle,” the source said.
