By Aliyu Baba Mohammed
A network of crumbling feeder roads has turned daily movement into a struggle for residents of Ikara town in Kaduna State, with some streets left in worse condition after contractors began work and disappeared during the previous administration of Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufa’i.
In Ikara, the headquarters of Ikara Local Government Area, getting from one neighbourhood to another has become a test of endurance for both people and vehicles. The town’s feeder roads present two painful realities: roads that were marked for reconstruction but abandoned halfway, and others that have never received any government attention despite their terrible state.
The roads marked for reconstruction by El-Rufa’i’s administration include Hanyar Kasuwa, Hanyar Yar Gora, Hanyar Magina and Hanyar Maje. Contractors arrived at these locations, tore up the existing road surfaces and then left without completing the work and without any explanation to the people or relevant authorities. The result is that these roads are now in far worse condition than they were before the projects started.
Hanyar Kasuwa, which serves as a major route for traders and shoppers accessing the town’s biweekly (main) market, presents a particularly disturbing picture. The abandoned reconstruction project has left behind exposed dustily sandy/muddy road surfaces, dangerous potholes and poor drainage that causes severe inconveniences, especially during the rainy season. Market men and women who use these roads daily now struggle to move their goods.
The road was not perfect before, but at least we could pass. Now after they came and tempered with some major roads, their state became worse than before. We struggle with our vehicles and goods because of the rough nature of these roads – a resident, Abubakar Shehu lamented
Hanyar Yar Gora and Hanyar Magina face similar problems, the contractors excavated portions of these roads and left open trenches that have since filled with water and debris. During the rainy season, some sections become almost impassable. Hanyar Maje, another road that was marked for reconstruction, now has deep gullies where drainage channels were started but never completed.
Beyond these abandoned projects, several other roads in Ikara town have received no government intervention at all despite their deplorable state. Hanyar Banki (popularly known as Secretariat Road), Hanyar Tsohuwa Kasuwa, Hanyar Unguwan Mai Alli, Hanyar Unguwan Yari and Hanyar Kwasallawa have deteriorated over the years without any reconstruction plans.
These roads have developed large potholes and eroded sections that make movement of pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and motorists so difficult, especially during the rainy season when they become muddy and slippery. Motorcyclists and motorists avoid some sections entirely, forcing longer detours or alternate routes that take more time and fuel.
The poor road conditions have serious economic implications for Ikara residents and beyond. The town is predominantly inhabited by farmers and agricultural traders who need to move farm produce to various markets within and outside Ikara. Maize, millet, rice, beans, guinea corn, sugarcane, vegetables and other crops produced in surrounding villages pass through these roads on their way to larger markets in Zaria, Kaduna and beyond.
The farmers who bring their produce to Ikara market now face challenges because of damaged roads as many of them don’t know the alternatives they can maneuver while transporting their farm produce to the market. Some buyers are reluctant to come into the town because of the difficulty in accessing certain areas.
We grow good crops here but transporting them is a big problem. Sometimes the tomatoes and peppers get spoiled before reaching the market because of how rough the roads are even before you could reach Ikara town. Traders lose money almost every market day – Ibrahim Alkasim
The situation also affects students/school pupils and workers who commute daily within the town. Schools located in areas like Unguwan Mai Alli and Kwasallawa become harder to reach during the rainy season. Just the way patients sometimes struggle to reach primary healthcare centers during emergencies because of the road conditions.
Commercial motorcycle operators, who provide the main means of transportation within Ikara town, complain that the bad roads damage their bikes and increase maintenance costs. Some have raised their fares to compensate for frequent repairs, adding to the financial burden on residents.
Ikara town is located in the Zazzau Emirate (Zone 1), approximately 150 kilometers from Kaduna, the state capital. As a local government headquarters, it serves as an administrative and commercial hub for surrounding rural communities. The road network is vital for connecting these communities to essential services and markets.
Community leaders and youth associations like Magajin Gari Ikara Community Development Association have repeatedly called on the Kaduna State government to complete the abandoned road projects and attend to other neglected routes in the town. They affirmed that good roads are essential for economic development and improved quality of life in the area.
Magajin Gari Ikara Community Development Association is majorly responsible for looking after the feeder roads in the town, because there are other associations respectively handling different aspects like education, health, sanitation, market, etc. We request the construction and reconstruction of roads when deemed necessary. We sent our requests through the local government Chairman to the state, and El-Rufa’i started some work but suddenly stopped for reasons best known to him. Nevertheless, we’ve requested the current administration under the leadership of Sen. Uba Sani to assist us in fixing the roads, which are almost all in a dilapidated state currently – Malam Idris Abdulkarim of Hayin Bawa, secretary of the association
Therefore, the current administration of Governor Uba Sani needs to urgently assess the situation in Ikara town and make road reconstruction a priority. Completing the abandoned projects on Hanyar Kasuwa, Hanyar Yar Gora, Hanyar Magina and Hanyar Maje would demonstrate commitment to finishing what previous contractors left undone.
Equally important is extending reconstruction efforts to the other dilapidated roads that have never received attention. Hanyar Banki, Hanyar Tsohuwa Kasuwa, Hanyar Unguwan Mai Alli, Hanyar Unguwan Yari and Hanyar Kwasallawa all need urgent intervention to make them motorable again.
For an agricultural community like Ikara, good roads are not a luxury but a necessity. They determine whether farmers can get their produce to market, whether children can get to school, whether patients can reach healthcare facilities and whether economic activities can thrive. The current state of roads in Ikara town is holding back the potential of a hardworking community that deserves better infrastructure.
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