TUDUN YOLA ROAD: MATTERS ARISING

[This is about a road constructed in Gwale Local Government of Kano State, Nigeria]

When we heard that a road is to be constructed that will link up Kofar Kabuga and Tudun Yola Village, the residents of Tudun Yola layout were delighted. We were so happy that development is coming to the area. When the work begins, we began to foresee some problems. There were place that were too narrow and were left like that. It means at such points only one car can pass at a go. Secondly when they started constructing the drainage patterns they realised that they are just too narrow to adequately manage the sewage of the area. We tried to draw the attention of the contractors, the chairman of the Local Government and the Managing Director of the Urban Development agency, but were simply ignored. But the worst came when the road was said to be completed.

The road is 2.5 kilometres; it looks like a draft to us. It does not look like a completed road, so we asked about how much it costs, someone told us it is worth over N90, 000,000 (unconfirmed) and that the contractor is a politician. Our concern about the quality of the road was dosed by some people who said that’s how local government build their roads (that’s LGs do a bad work always). But after going through some local governments within the metropolitan we realised that that’s not true.

What makes me surprised was when I went to Karaye town on a research assignment, I saw the roads constructed by the chairman and was impressed because it looks like the roads constructed by the State Government. I also saw another one at Rimin Kebe constructed by the Nassarawa Local Government Chairaman, it looks good. What came to my mind immediately then was whether the chairmen of Karaye and Nassarawa ‘masu akidar Malam ne’ because they built roads that looks as qualitative as those constructed by the Shekarau administration. If so then, is the chairman of Gwale following a different akida?

But on a serious note, I wish to call on Governor Shekarau to send his monitoring and evaluation team to examine that road. If the 2.5 kilometre Tudun Yola road is completed as it is, it should not be accepted because it is poorly and shabbily done. It will be degraded after this coming raining season and all that has been spent would have been a waste. I am sure Dr Shekarau and the Emir of Kano have seen the road on May 1st when they open the darul hadith Jumaá t Mosque. The State government should also investigate the cost of the project, if it is indeed over N90, 000,000, it should be investigated before EFCC come and do theirs.

It is our hope that the road still be completed to match the quality Kano roads are known for under Shekarau.


This article was published in Sunday Triumph Newspaper and the Leadership Newspaper (All Nigerian Newspapers)

Below are copies of the letters we wrote to the Chairman of the Local Government and the Managing Director of the State Urban Planning and Development Agency.

July 22 2008


The Honourable Chairman,
Gwale Local Government
Kano State

Dear Sir,

Construction of 2.5 km Kabuga-Tudun Yola Layout Road: An Observation

The Tudun Yola Advancement Association wishes to commend you for the important road project you embarked upon (Kabuga-Tudun Yola Layout). This is a historic and epoch making project that will stamp your name in sands of history.

In view of its importance, the Association wishes to make an observation which it feels would not only improve the work but also make it worthwhile considering the huge amount of money being invested.

There are some areas at the opening of the road from the Kabuga to Tudun Yola layout that are narrow because some people have erected structures on the road. Those places need to be expanded even if it means demolishing some structures. Sir, if this is not done, all the efforts put in this historic and gigantic project would be lost to the chaos those areas would create as soon as the Darul-hadith Jumaát mosque and Islamic school start operation.

While wishing you all the best in this important work, we pray, you would use your good office to ensure that the work is done properly.

Thank you.


Yours sincerely,


Dr. Ali Tijjani PhD
Chairman
July 22 2008

The Managing Director,
Kano Urban Planning and Development Agency
Durbin Katsina Road
Kano

Dear Sir,

Construction of 2.5 km Kabuga-Tudun Yola Layout Road: An Observation

The Tudun Yola Advancement Association is delighted with the historic and epoch making road project being undertaken at Kabuga-Tudun Yola Layout by Gwale Local Government Council. In view of its importance, the Association wishes to make an observation which it feels would not only improve the work but also make it worthwhile considering the huge amount of money being invested.

There are some areas at the opening of the road from the Kabuga to Tudun Yola layout that are narrow because some people have erected structures on the road. Those places need to be expanded even if it means demolishing some structures. Sir, if this is not done, all the efforts put in this historic and gigantic project would be lost to the chaos those areas would create as soon as the Darul-hadith Jumaát mosque and Islamic school start operation.

While wishing you all the best in this important work, we pray, you would use your good office to ensure that the work is done properly.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Ali Tijjani PhD
Chairman