For some time now, the 170km Marabar Kankara-Katsina road in Katsina State has been in a deplorable state, and things just got worse. The road, which was supposed to be reconstructed, has been abandoned midway, leaving residents and commuters in a difficult situation.
The project was initially celebrated when it commenced earlier this year, but it was abruptly stopped without any clear explanation. According to Ibrahim Kabir Masari, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Political Matters, the Katsina State Governor, Mallam Dikko Radda, requested the President to revoke the contract and re-award it to another contractor. This decision has sparked widespread criticism from commuters, residents, and Civil Society Organisations.
The halt in the road construction has not only affected businesses but has also emboldened bandits in the area. Commercial vehicle drivers like Haruna Abdu lament that they have to take longer routes due to the road’s condition, which has increased their fuel costs significantly. “For drivers coming from Funtua or Zaria, the road through Kankara is the shortest route to Katsina, but now we have to go round through Musawa or through Gidan Mutum Daya when going to Katsina,” Abdu said.
Residents of Kankara Local Government Area have also protested against the bandits’ operations, blocking major roads and calling on the government to protect their lives and property. Muhammad Sabiu, a resident, highlighted the dire situation: “Right now, there are corpses of people killed by the bandits in the bush, and they have prevented us from evacuating them. That is what is happening day and night in our communities.
Dan-Gambo Faruku from Burdugau narrated how the cancellation of the road project has worsened the security situation. “More than fifty villages have been attacked between Burdugau, Yargoje, Kuka-sheka, Danmarke and Kankara, and because the road has been closed, security agencies cannot come to our aid during these attacks,” he said. The lack of vehicular traffic on the road has made it easier for bandits to attack at any time.
The economic impact is also significant, with many businesses suffering due to the increased travel time and costs. Aminu Bako, a commuter, mentioned that he has reduced his frequent journeys to Zaria due to the high transport fares and bandit attacks, further highlighting the economic strain on the community.
