WHY KANO JAKARA-KWANAR GOGWA ROAD DUALIZATION PROJECT IS GULPING N5.5BN

SALIHU SAYYADI,Kano
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Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf

Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf is the Commissioner of Works, Housing and Transportation in Kano State. In this interview with our correspondent, SALIHU SAYYADI in Kano, he revealed that Kano is pioneering light rail project in the country and that it will not borrow a single kobo to finance the multiple projects in the state.

The present Kano state government is noted for several projects, most of which are ongoing, such as the overhead bridges, roads and housing. One that is of particular interest is the metropolitan light rail system. What is the motive behind it?

 So far, so good, because since the inception of this government of Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, government has been trying seriously to ensure the provision of basic infrastructure for the people of the state; part of that is the three major projects you asked about that are under constructions. The light rail system is an initiative of the Kwankwaso government, and if you look at it, light rail project is the trend all over the world. The light rail system is what is being practiced globally and so Kwankwaso thought his people deserves it in order to reduce congestion on our roads. In Nigeria, we have only one light rail system that is being undertaken by the Federal Government which has taken a lot of time and still under constructions; that is Lagos-Kaduna-Kano route. In Kano, government decided that the people deserve to have a befitting light rail system and Kwankwaso invited interested companies, especially the reputable ones like CCECC that are currently handling the Federal Government projects and in Kano. Already, a Memorandum of Understanding has since been signed between the government and the company. Like I said, all this is aimed at decongesting our roads and waterways. Don’t forget that the state is the most populated in Nigeria and the most commercially viable and anything that need to be done in order to reduce traffic congestion and ensure viability of the commercial activities has to be done; and this MOU we have signed. What delayed in the taking off of the projects is the issue of funding and CCECC are interested in executing the project through Kano State funding and His Excellency said no to borrowing. He intends not to borrow a single kobo throughout his tenure and that is exactly what is delaying us and we have not been able to finalize the MOU. And as this was going on, another reputable company; an Asian company came forward and indicated interest in executing the project and that is why we had to invite them to Nigeria. We had a very fruitful discussion and the difference between our MOU with CCECC and these present ones is that they are ready to execute the project at no cost to the state government. All they want is for the government to provide the enabling environment and to provide a piece of land for the take off of the project. In fact, very soon; we are going to reach a consensus. If by God’s grace, we finalize the issue, the project will then take off. As this is going on, don’t forget our project on first, second and third fly-over that are going on. And as for the first and second flyovers, works have reached seventy percent and very soon the people of Kano will be using them. And we have been visiting the site day and night on the one at Kofar Nassarawa to Silver Jubilee, and the third one when completed, although it has just commenced, if you see the progress of project execution, you will be impressed. It is about 10 percent done in just two months and it would be the largest flyover in Nigeria because it is double the two other flyovers we have. The third issue is the project of Jakara-Kwanar Gogwa Road Dualization Project. Everybody knows what that project, Jakara drainage is. That drainage has constituted a lot of environmental degradation and health problems to the people of the State. There are so many inconveniences that people encountered due to the dirty nature of the place His Excellency came up with the idea of cleaning it, covering it with conduit concrete pipe and on top of it constructing dualize road with provision of street lights. Already, contractors are there doing it, and it is costing the government over N5.5 billion.

How will you convince Kano people that these projects will not end up as abandoned projects in view of short time left for the administration?

Well! You see, there is this wise saying that ‘man proposes and God disposes’. We keep praying and having hopes, that with the determination of the governor and his commitment and our seriousness, the project will be completed; even if not all, for example take these flyover projects; in just ten months; the contract was initially 18 months and we are having 76 percent completion and number two, the third flyover we are already at 10 percent completion in just two months, Jakara River, there is no problems most of the component has been imported and the work is speedily ongoing, and as for the flyover; we don’t have problems with it. Its components are been imported within two, three months.

What is the wisdom behind the creation of toll gates in Kano even though the Federal Government scrapped it sometime ago?

Don’t forget that we have three tiers of government, fully independent of the other. The only thing is the need for cohesion and cooperation between them. Now even though some of the roads are federal roads, but states have every right to compliment federal efforts in everything; more specifically on security. What is going on in Kano is that there is the need to have security measures and we are not calling them toll gates, but security gates. They are security gates to check the security problems in the state and we have duly informed the federal government on the executions of the gates for security purposes. We are not constructing toll gates because they are federal roads and they have banned that. The security gate is different; the nomenclature is different and like I said we have duly informed the federal government on it. And we are by the way helping them on their services because security is federal government’s responsibility. We are using the meagre amount we have to guarantee security. These gates are created to check illegal entrance of goods and services into the state, especially food and other illegal things. We are not charging money as it is done at toll gates. So, they are not toll gates.

The issue of Independent Power Project (IPP) which you have started is very interesting. Where are we in that regard?

Well, the Kano state government is very concerned about this Independent Power Project (IPP). We are very serious about providing light for our industries to operate effectively. We don’t have time and we are very much eager to see the people of Kano start enjoying the state owned power supply; constantly power supply this is; especially on the key areas that touches the life of the people-water supply and the street lights and the resuscitating of our industries. Previously, there was epileptic power supply in Kano and the state government felt that, with the population we have in Kano which is very huge, we cannot continue to rely on the federal government for power. We have two dams which are among the biggest in Nigeria, but were left unused. That is why His Excellency is trying to use them to have the IPP in Kano to benefit not only Kano people but even the neighboring states. Already, a powerful implementation committee under the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) has been inaugurated by His Excellency to facilitate this gigantic project. The contractors have just mobilized to site.

Housing is another key area where the state government has invested so much and as student of history we knew how long it took for a small project like Danladi Nasidi Housing Estate to be appreciated by residents in the state. In fact, it was rejected by the people. Now, how will you convince the same people on the new gigantic housing projects you are embarking on viz, Kwankwasiyya, Bandarawo and Amana housing estates?

You see, in life we learn by mistake. Danladi Nasidi was conceptualized by the His Excellency, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso during his first term. At that time, people were very reluctant to occupy the houses. We had to resort to the issue of allocating them to mostly civil servants. Now, when he came back; he modified the system to establish these three cities, and we are confident that they will be occupied. Take example of Kwankwasiyya city, Phase One has almost been completed with drainages, electricity supply and all what it takes for a city to develop. And now we have aggressive ways of marketing these houses, not only to Kano people, but also to other Nigerians that have the resources and power of purchase. The strategy is to market properly to the residents and we have allocated a certain portion to Kano state civil servants, medium income earners will also benefit from it. However, thirty percent of the houses are reserved for civil servants in Kano We have introduced the system of PPP (Public Private Partnership), especially for estate professionals, bankers and other investors who can purchase in bulk. The forms are now available at the Kano State Housing Corporation and Kano State Investment and Property Limited both government agencies are in charge of marketing and sales of the houses.