The Kafanchan Road Project: A People’s Nightmare

By Victor Teh Dabo

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: Infrastructure development has always been heralded as a cornerstone of progress in any society. Roads, in particular, symbolize connectivity, trade facilitation, and access to essential services. In Kaduna state, where the deficit in infrastructure remains a perennial challenge, the announcement of road projects often inspires hope. However, the tale of the Kafanchan Road Projects is one that transformed hope into disillusionment, highlighting systemic failures and the untold suffering of the people it was meant to serve.

When the Kafanchan Road Project was unveiled, by the immediate past government of ElRufai in 2021, it was celebrated as a transformative initiative. The road, stretching from NEPA roundabout to U/Rimi bridge, promised to upgrade the town’s main access road, enhance economic activities, and reduce travel time. Local businesses anticipated a boost in commerce, and residents looked forward to a safer and more convenient means of connectivity. The project was touted as a milestone in addressing years of neglect in the region’s infrastructure.

However, as with many infrastructure projects in the country, the Kafanchan Road Project became mired in delays. The initial timeline of 18 months for completion was repeatedly pushed back, with government officials citing funding constraints, contractor inefficiencies, and adverse weather conditions responsible for the delay. Each delay came with a renewed promise of swift action, but the visible progress on the ground told a different story. Scrapped up surfaces, frightening potholes and sporadic activity became the hallmark of the project site.

For the residents of Kafanchan and surrounding areas, these delays are more than an inconvenience. The uncompleted stretches of the road has created dangerous conditions for motorists, pedestrians and residents along the construction corridors. What was once a rough but passable road became a treacherous dusty way of potholes and loose gravel in dry season, and a frustrating stretch of mud in rainy seasons.

Beyond the economic and logistical challenges, the human cost of the Kafanchan Road Project’s failure has been profound. Emergency services struggled to navigate the incomplete road, resulting in life-threatening setbacks. Pregnant women en route to hospitals, patients requiring urgent medical attention, and pupils commuting to schools have all borne the brunt of the infrastructural neglect.

Road users and residents have oftentimes voiced out their frustrations demanding actions. Yet, their pleas have often been met with empty assurances or outright neglect. The lack of transparency regarding project funds and the absence of consequences for non-performing contractors have only deepened the people’s sense of betrayal.

As it is, the Kafanchan Road Project, rather than being a beacon of hope, has become a symbol of broken promises and systemic failure. It is a stark reminder of the human cost of infrastructural neglect and the urgent need for reform. The people of Kafanchan and environs deserve better, and their plight should serve as a wake-up call to policymakers, contractors, and all stakeholders involved in state-building.

If Kaduna State, especially the Southern part, is to progress, a future of accountability, efficiency, and genuine development must be guaranteed by matching words with action.

Victor Teh Dabo,
Kwaing Zum – Gwong.
dabo.victor@gmail.com

19/11/2024