Southern Kaduna Youths Protest Abandoned Road Projects, Urge Gov. Uba Sani To Intervene
Residents of Kafanchan in Southern Kaduna on Thursday staged a peaceful protest over the alleged abandonment of major road construction projects in Kafanchan Wards A and B, calling on the Kaduna State Government to urgently resume and complete the works.
The protesters, operating under the banner of the Kafanchan Youth Forum, marched through key streets in the town and later converged at the headquarters of Jema’a Local Government Area. They expressed concern over the deteriorating state of the unfinished projects, which were initiated during the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Carrying placards with messages such as “Our Future Is Under Construction, Don’t Abandon Kafanchan Emirate” and “Kafanchan’s Development Is Kaduna’s Progress, Complete the Project Sir,” the demonstrators accused the current administration of failing to fulfill commitments made during the 2023 governorship campaign.
According to the protesters, the abandoned road projects have left behind deep excavations, unfinished drainage systems, and erosion channels that pose significant risks to residents, especially during the ongoing rainy season.
Speaking during the protest, the leader of the group, Bala Nuhu Kafanchan, said the projects began around 2017 but were not completed before the end of the previous administration.
He alleged that Governor Uba Sani had promised to complete the projects while campaigning for office but that little progress had been recorded since he assumed office.
“The roads were partially completed under the previous administration, while others were abandoned midway. We supported the current governor based on assurances that the projects would be completed, but meaningful work has yet to resume,” Nuhu said.
He further stated that residents had submitted petitions to the local government council, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Kaduna State Government, but their concerns had not yielded concrete action.
Nuhu warned that the abandoned drainage channels have become safety hazards, with several residents reportedly sustaining injuries after falling into excavated areas. He also noted that advancing erosion has threatened homes and damaged property in parts of the community.
Another resident, Aliyu Haruna, attributed the suspension of work to alleged funding challenges involving the contractor handling the project, Farm Track Limited.
According to Haruna, the contractor gradually withdrew equipment from the site after exhausting funds released during the previous administration.
“The contractor informed us that payments had not been made by the current administration and that work could not continue without additional funding,” he claimed.
Haruna urged the state government to prioritize the completion of the roads, describing Kafanchan as a major commercial and political hub in Southern Kaduna.
Also speaking, Jonah Nuhu, a resident of Zaria Street in Kafanchan, appealed to the government to revisit the Kafanchan Township Road Project before further damage is caused by erosion and flooding.
The protest reflects growing concerns among residents of Southern Kaduna over infrastructure challenges and delays in the execution of public projects across the region.
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