By Israel Bulus, Kaduna

At least 12 local government areas in Kaduna State have reportedly been sidelined in the multi-million-dollar Urban Renewal Programme initiated by the immediate past administration of Nasir El-Rufai, despite ongoing repayments of a $350m World Bank loan secured for the project.

Stakeholders across the state have raised alarm over the alleged lopsided implementation of the infrastructural programme, with several communities in Southern and Central Kaduna lamenting neglect and abandonment.

Field investigations by Our Correspondent revealed that not a single kilometre of road has been completed in LGAs such as Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Ikara, Jaba, Kagarko, Kajuru, Kauru, Kudan, Makarfi, Sanga, Soba, and Zangon Kataf—some of the poorest and most underserved areas in the state.

Sources within the affected communities alleged that while construction flag-offs were conducted with fanfare, the projects never progressed beyond groundbreaking stages. In many instances, equipment was abandoned and contractors demobilised shortly after the ceremonies.

Transparency advocates and civil society organisations have described the situation as a gross injustice. Comrade Phelimon Andrew, a Zango-Kataf-based activist, called for a legislative probe into the programme.

“We can’t keep taking loans for political PR. The communities have a right to know where every dollar went,” Andrew said.

The World Bank facility, secured under the El-Rufai administration, was intended to fund the Urban Renewal Programme—a signature initiative aimed at modernising infrastructure across the state. However, critics say the implementation has been anything but inclusive.

Residents expressed frustration over deteriorating road conditions and failed promises. Musa Yakubu, a commercial motorcyclist in Sabo Tasha, said the abandoned roadworks have made commuting both costly and hazardous.

“This road was supposed to be completed under El-Rufai’s administration. Now it’s just a dust trap in dry season and a muddy mess when it rains,” he lamented.

Similarly, Gimbiya Musa, who runs a shop near the stalled Television Garage–Sabo Tasha bridge, said her business has suffered a 50 per cent decline in sales due to low customer traffic.

In Zitti village, Zango Kataf LGA, residents reported that children now play on half-graded roads while open drains attract refuse dumps.

“It’s a constant reminder of a broken promise,” said Ezekiel Haruna, a community leader.

A school teacher in Kafanchan, Fatima Bello, added: “El-Rufai gave us hope that Kaduna would be transformed. What we got were potholes, dust storms and traffic chaos.”

Garba Habibu from Birnin Gwari, one of the hardest-hit LGAs, called on Governor Uba Sani to probe the previous administration.

“This administration must tell us the truth about what happened to the $350m World Bank loan. We deserve answers,” he said.

An insider within the state Ministry of Works, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that about 76 per cent of the projects were concentrated in Kaduna North Senatorial District, leaving Southern and Central zones with abandoned sites.

A youth leader in Kaura also criticised the unequal spread of development.

“How can we keep paying back a loan and have nothing to show for it?” he asked, citing the stalled Yarbwan–Kafanchan road as an example.

In Birnin Gwari, plagued by insecurity and poor road access, residents said the failed projects have compounded their suffering. Government insiders confirmed to PUNCH that many of the affected LGAs never saw project completion or even contractor mobilisation.

“Everything was about media visibility and urban optics,” one source within the Kaduna Government House said.

Community leaders are now demanding urgent attention and equity in infrastructural development, warning that continued marginalisation may breed discontent.

Efforts to reach the Kaduna State Ministry of Works for official comment were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to key officials were not returned at press time.

The Federal Government has announced that discussions are underway regarding the safe and dignified return of 15,000 Nigerians stranded in Cameroon, Niger, Chad, and other parts of the world.

Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), made this statement during a media briefing on Friday in Abuja.

Ahmed highlighted that there are currently no fewer than six million displaced individuals within Nigeria, while thousands of refugees reside in various countries around the globe.

“We have 15,000 Nigerians wishing to return to the country voluntarily, and we also have at least 100,000 foreigners residing in Nigeria as refugees.

“All of these fall under the commission’s responsibilities, to provide them with support,” he stated.

While reaffirming the government’s relentless efforts to ensure the safe return of displaced persons, Ahmed expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the assistance extended to the commission and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

The NCFRMI chief also revealed that Nigeria will host the inaugural thematic meeting under its chairmanship of the Rabat Process, with over 100 delegates from the 57 partner countries expected to attend.

It is worth noting that Nigeria assumed the chairmanship of the Rabat Process—a Euro-African dialogue on migration and development—in January 2025.

Ahmed stated that the meeting, scheduled for 13 and 14 May, themed “Youth, Innovation and Education: Driving the Future of Migration,” aims to facilitate bilateral discussions between Nigeria and other nations, ultimately enhancing migration governance.

“Membership in these platforms offers opportunities for knowledge transfer and improved migration management.

“Nigeria’s leadership in the Rabat Process is viewed as advantageous, despite its one-year term,” he added.

The federal commissioner also addressed the challenges of managing migration, emphasising the need for adequate advocacy to educate younger generations about legal migration pathways.

“There is a necessity to inform migrants about the repercussions of irregular migration, which can lead to negative outcomes.

“The focus should be on promoting legal migration pathways to reduce the number of irregular migrants.

“Regular migration involves travelling through lawful channels, whereas irregular migration often entails perilous and unlawful methods.

“Irregular migration can result in hardship and danger, leaving many migrants unable to return to their home countries,” he remarked.

Ahmed, therefore, called for improved coordination and support from various stakeholders, including the media, to enhance migration governance.

Kano State’s influence in Nigeria’s leadership landscape was reaffirmed as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso were named top honorees at the 10th Annual Lecture and Awards Ceremony organized by Authentic News Daily.

The event, set for Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Arewa House in Kaduna, will celebrate their contributions to governance and public service.

According to a statement by Governor Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the ceremony will also honor Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as the “Authentic Woman of the Year.”

Governor Yusuf will receive the “Authentic Humanitarian Governor of the Year 2024” award for his transformative leadership and grassroots development initiatives, which have significantly improved lives in Kano State.

Senator Kwankwaso, national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and former Kano governor, will be recognized as the “Authentic Politician of the Year 2024” for his visionary leadership and enduring legacy of mentorship.

Themed “Religion as a Tool for Peace and National Unity,” the event will feature a keynote address by former Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd). Prominent speakers, including Rev. Joseph John Hayab of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Sheikh Halliru Abdullahi Maraya of the Global Peace Foundation, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, will discuss the role of religion in fostering national unity.

The awards committee lauded Yusuf and Kwankwaso for their “remarkable dedication to public good” and “unmatched service to humanity,” noting that the honors followed a rigorous evaluation of their impact and national relevance.

The recognition of Kano’s leaders underscores the state’s prominence in Nigerian politics and highlights a shared commitment to purpose-driven governance.