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Motorists Urge Gov Sani On Completion Of Kafanchan Township Road

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By Israel Bulus, Kaduna

Residents and motorists using the Kafanchan dualisation township road in the Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State have expressed their frustration over the sluggish pace of the ongoing road rehabilitation project being undertaken by the state government, urging Governor Una Sani to come to their rescue.

ELANZA NEWS reports that many residents and motorists have voiced their concerns regarding the slow progress of the project, which was initiated under the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai as part of an urban renewal initiative in 2020.

The vital interstate road connects Kagoro, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Kwoi, Abuja, and Madakiya, Kaduna. Unfortunately, it has fallen into disrepair, causing travelers to be stranded for hours at various sections.

Our correspondent notes that the reconstruction of the Kafanchan dualisation roads from the NEPA Roundabout to Ungwa-Rimi bridge was one of the 26.3 kilometers awarded to Rafali Nigeria Limited, while 18 single-lane roads were contracted to Farmtrac Nigeria Limited, totaling N12.8 billion in October 2020, with a completion deadline set for 18 months.

However, ELANZA NEWS investigations reveal that many motorists were left stranded on the dilapidated road on Saturday, enduring hours of delays at heavily flooded areas. Reports indicate that heavy-duty trucks became stuck from the Kafanchan Roundabout to the Emir’s Palace gate, further exacerbating the traffic congestion, especially following recent rain.

In light of this frustrating situation, several motorists and road users who spoke with ELANZA NEWS highlighted their ongoing concerns about the road’s condition. Motorist Ango Adamu remarked, “The road is dirty, stinking, and flooded during the rainy season, raising serious public health concerns.”

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Adamu added, “Along with myself, several motorists were stuck on that collapsed road, which is being rehabilitated at an annoyingly slow pace.”

Other motorists echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that the road’s poor condition not only hinders their travel from the NEPA Roundabout to the Emir’s Palace but also endangers their lives and vehicles. They noted that motorists frequently become targets for criminals when stranded in these vulnerable areas.

Pastor Gideon Mutum, a local resident, observed that the road project is long overdue for completion. He pointed out that other similar projects in the state have been completed while Kafanchan’s remains unfinished. “We are grateful that the contractors are still on-site, seemingly working,” he commented.

Mutum suggested that the contractor prioritize fixing one lane at a time to alleviate congestion, as many local businesses have suffered due to the road’s condition. He added, “Southern Kaduna was neglected during the El-Rufai administration. We suffered greatly, but we are beginning to see some compassion and political maturity from the current Governor Uba Sani.”

He further claimed, “El-Rufai’s administration was marked by hatred and bigotry. In contrast, Uba Sani’s administration has shown empathy towards our struggles, particularly regarding road projects and security.”

Mutum urged Gov Sani to leverage available resources to expedite the road’s completion, emphasizing its economic significance as a route for travelers to Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, and Jos.

Commercial vehicle driver Salisu Ibrahim lamented the dire state of the uncompleted road, stating, “Commuters from across the country are enduring significant hardships while traveling this route. The potholes and bad sections lead to frequent accidents, resulting in loss of life as motorists can no longer identify safe areas to drive.”

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Ibrahim insisted that the ongoing delays have led to a loss of hope regarding the project’s quality and completion. He added, “Motorists, motorcyclists, and residents using the Kafanchan township road are facing severe difficulties, especially since the alternative route has been rendered impassable by rain.”

He questioned whether the contractors had been adequately mobilized to handle the project efficiently.

In response, Kasim Grema, Chairman of Rafali Construction Company Limited, attributed the project delays to the country’s economic situation. “The major challenges we face include price fluctuations for materials. We have approached the Kaduna Road Agency, which has communicated with the governor to arrange discussions on how to move forward with the project,” Grema stated.

He noted, “When the project began, a bag of cement cost N4,500, but now it is priced between N8,500 and N9,000. The cost of iron rods has surged from approximately N300,000 to N400,000 per ton to about N1.6 million now, affecting our work pace.”

Grema confirmed that they have completed about 68% of the road work and expressed optimism about completing it promptly once they finalize discussions with the government. He thanked Gov Sani for establishing a committee to oversee the Kafanchan township dualisation road project, anticipating that their report would lead to necessary actions for completion.

In his remarks, Dr. Abdullahi Baba Ahmed, Managing Director of the Kaduna State Roads Agency, announced that Gov Sani has approved the final payment for the road project to ensure its swift completion. He explained that delays were primarily due to inflationary pressures on building materials and the contractor’s request for an extension, which has been granted.

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Ahmed reiterated that the administration’s slogan, “sustain,” reflects its commitment to completing all inherited projects. He noted, “Rafali Construction Company has been granted a 12-month extension to finalize the work.”

He acknowledged the financial challenges faced by the current administration, which inherited significant liabilities but reassured the public that prioritizing and completing existing projects remains a top focus.

Furthermore, Ahmed emphasized the government’s commitment to alleviating poverty and enhancing infrastructure, stating, “The ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ is designed to benefit both urban and rural areas.”

He confirmed that only one payment remains for Rafali and assured that the governor had been informed about the project’s status. Ahmed expressed optimism that the contractor would expedite completion despite the ongoing rainy season, which may pose challenges.

“Road construction involves multiple facets, including concreting, asphalting, and artwork. We are confident that the contractor is committed to delivering quality work for the people of Kafanchan and its surroundings,” Ahmed concluded.

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Middle Belt demands halt to relocation of Kaduna Polytechnic, Television campus 

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By Amos Tauna, Kaduna

The Middle Belt Forum, Kaduna state chapter, has called on the federal Ministry of education, Kaduna state government, and the presidency to reverse the planned decision of relocating  Kaduna Polytechnic’s Television campus.

The forum stated that it publicly declared it’s solidarity with the Eagle’s Brain Human Rights Organization and the host communities of Kaduna Polytechnic’s Television Campus in opposing its planned relocation.

Yusuf Solomon Danbaki, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kaduna State Middle Belt Chapter, in a statement on Saturday said that the relocation of the Kaduna Polytechnic’s Television campus threatens to undermine education, economic stability, and social equity in Chikun Local Government Area.

According to him, “The Television Campus sustains thousands of livelihoods through businesses such as food vendors, transporters, rental services, and SMEs. Relocation would cripple these enterprises, plunging families into poverty and destabilizing the local economy.

He noted that the campus has been a beacon of hope for low-income students, rural youth, women, and first-generation learners, stressing that moving it to a distant location would exclude vulnerable groups from affordable education, exacerbating inequality.

 

“As the only federal institution in Chikun LGA, the campus symbolizes inclusion and development. Its removal would further marginalize the Middle Belt region and violate the rights of host communities,” the forum explained.

The spokesman explained that the relocation disregards the campus’s foundational purpose, destabilizing the socio-economic and cultural fabric of neighborhoods like Unguwan Yelwa, Gbagyi-Villa, and Sabon Tasha.

Danbaki stated, “This relocation is not just an administrative decision, it is an assault on the aspirations of our people. The Television Campus is a lifeline for education and economic dignity. We stand with Eagle’s Brain Human Rights Organization and the affected communities to resist this injustice. Should the authorities fail to act, we will mobilize all lawful means, including litigation and peaceful mass action, to defend our collective future.”

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He urged Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State to urgently do something to halt the relocation and engage stakeholders in transparent dialogue and also called on the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman to uphold the campus’s federal mandate and ensure equitable access to education.

The spokesman appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene to protect the interests of Chikun LGA’s marginalized communities.

 

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NBA Trains Sokoto Judges, Khadis Of Shariah Courts On ICT Compliance

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BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

The Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA) Sokoto State branch also known as Caliphate Bar, Saturday began Information Communication Technology (ICT) training for Judges of High Court Justice and Khadis of the Shariah Court of Appeal.

Addressing participating Judges and Khadis in her opening remarks, the Sokoto State NBA chairman, Barrister Rashidat Muhammad said the NBA will continue to partner Sokoto judiciary to ensure that it get peoples commendation and appreciation.

On why the knowledge and application of ICT has become very imperative in the 21st century, Barrister Rashidat said adoption of ICT in the dispensation of legal proceedings will safe cost, reduce insecurity, waste of time, and other precious resources.

“”Judges and Khadis in Sokoto State are computer literate, but there is the need to improve on what was known before. And the NBA under my leadership will give the necessary support to the judiciary to ensure that they sustain  their successes””, the NBA chairman reiterated.

Giving his support to the ICT compliance  stand for Judges and Khadis, a law Professor from Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Ibrahim Abdullahi who is also the state chairman Continues Legal Education Committee, commended the foresight of NBA Sokoto chapter saying the training was very apt considering the security, social, political and economic problems facing the nation.

Professor Ibrahim also noted that the application of ICT in proceedings will further help to improve job performance, protect  data and share knowledge.

On his part, another Professor of Commercial Law and ICT, from  Ibrahim Shehu Bakori who is the sponsor of the  training said they have to move wit the pace of time to remain relevant in the ever changing world.

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Before declaring the ICT training for Judges and Khadis open, Sokoto State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Muhammad Saidu Sifawa represented by
Justice Abubakar Adamu said, the ICT training ought to be for all judges and Khadis not only the newly appointed ones.

“”ICT has become necessary for every Judges and Khadis to embrace as it help fasten legal proceedings. This was why in 2020 the State Chief Judge  ordered a state practice direction allowing judges and Khadis to conduct proceedings virtually  and no any other order has been given to the contrary hence it still stands.

“”We have now moved from the analogue era hence the need to either embrace the ICT or in no distance time you become obsolete, adding the only way to distinguish yourself from the 15th century judges to the 21st century one is to constantly upgrade yourselves”””.

PICTURE CAPTION: Cross section of Judges and Khadis in Sokoto at the one day ICT compliance training organized by the NBA, Sokoto State branch.

PHOTO BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

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160 communities face gully erosion threat in Anambra– Official

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The Managing Director of Anambra State Erosion, Watershed and Climate Change Agency (ANSEWCCA), Prof. Philip Phil-Eze, has said no fewer than 160 communities in the state were at the risk of gully erosion menace.

Phil-Eze said this at a one day sensitisation workshop on the use of “Local Knowledge to Combat Erosion” in Awka on Friday.

The workshop was organised by Environment Development Initiative for Africa (EDIA), a non-governmental organization on environmental sustainability in collaboration with ANSEWCCA

Phil-Ez who presented a paper titled “Expanding Interventions in the Control of Soil Erosion in Anambra State Through Local Action” said the state was one of the most degraded and erosion-ravaged landscapes in Africa.

He said soil erosion was as a result of a number of factors including natural and man made, and called for pragmatic local remedial measures and approaches towards preventing the menace by nipping it in the bud.

According to him, 160 communities out of the 179 communities in the state are facing erosion hazards.

“Natural causes of erosion menace include intensity of rainfall, flood/runoff, lithology (loose soil type), topography and scarce vegetation cover.

“Man-made causes include the culture of negligence, cutting down trees, indiscriminate waste disposal, lack of harvesting rainwater, sand mining, modern roofing styles and interlock tiles, inadequate knowledge of the environment, lack of involvement of the local communities in erosion control.

“Others are poor termination of drainage channels, wrongly terminated or diverted channels by contractors during construction, land use patterns in buildings and developments without plans to accommodate erosion and unhealthy farming practice,” he said.

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Phil-Eze warned residents to desist from unhealthy environmental practices which had the potential to exacerbate the menace.

The Director of Research and Publication for EDIA, Prof. Emma Ezenwaji, said the objective of the exercise was to encourage positive behavioral attitude towards environmental sustainability.

He said the capacity building workshop was timely and critical considering the fact that Anambra was a serious concern in terms of erosion, flooding and other environmental hazards.

According to him, this event is engaging, interactive and participatory to ensure effective transfer of needed knowledge and skills.

Commissioner for Environment, Dr Felix Odimegwu, commended the organisers of the programme which he described as ‘a timely intervention’.

Odimegwu who was represented by Mr Tochukwu Obodogha, the Permanent Secretary, said prevention was the best approach in erosion control.

According to him, the administration of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo prioritises environmental sustainability, and the ministry would continue to encourage environmental best practices in the state. (NAN)

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