Buhari Abba
The widespread issue of abandoned projects continues to plague Nigeria, leaving communities grappling with incomplete infrastructure, and nowhere is this more evident than in remote villages like Kayarda in Takai Local Government Area of Kano State. Among these forgotten projects are skeletal roadworks, hospitals, and bridges that leave communities isolated and underserved.
In December 2021, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) reported that over 56,000 projects across Nigeria remain abandoned, representing a staggering N17 trillion in wasted resources. These incomplete endeavors, launched with fanfare, have become grim reminders of lost opportunities and broken promises.
One such abandoned project is the road linking Takai town to Kayarda, a remote community located about 120km from metropolitan Kano. The road, which was meant to connect a string of villages including Fajewa, Birnin Bako, and Hatsai, remains partially constructed, leaving residents stranded and cut off, especially during the rainy season. The state government’s 2024 budget included funds for the reconstruction of a bridge on this road, but locals lament that progress has stalled at Fajewa.
Saleh Alhaji Mikaila, Lead Coordinator of the Southern Takai Development Forum, described the severe consequences of the poor road conditions: “We can’t quantify the number of deaths that occurred here,” he said, referring to frequent flooding and impassable sections of the road during the rainy season. Residents are calling on the state government to ensure the project is completed.
Farmer and businessman Muhammadu Shawai echoed these concerns, lamenting how political leaders had visited the area multiple times, only to leave their promises unfulfilled. “We appeal to all those responsible to fix the road,” Shawai pleaded. He explained that business activities grind to a halt during the rainy season, with transportation costs skyrocketing due to alternative routes.
The impact of the poor infrastructure extends beyond travel and commerce, affecting critical healthcare access. The Kayarda Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) is the only health facility serving this remote area, but its deplorable state compounds the hardships faced by residents. According to the community, the PHC is severely understaffed, with residents often unable to access even basic medical services.
The state of the healthcare facility in Kayarda reflects the neglect of the village’s crumbling road infrastructure. Community elder Namadi Datti voiced his frustration, noting that while some attention has been given to nearby areas like Takai and Kachako, Kayarda has been left behind. “This road is old, but it hasn’t been given any attention,” Datti said. The lack of proper healthcare services further compounds the community’s challenges.
Larai Abdullahi, a mother from Kayarda, described the struggle to access medical care, particularly during the rainy season when the road becomes impassable. “If our children become ill, we have no option other than to leave them at home or risk the treacherous journey to the hospital,” she explained, highlighting the severe consequences of the road’s disrepair and the absence of reliable healthcare.
The Kayarda Primary Healthcare Centre is barely operational, with no resident doctor and insufficient medical supplies. The community describes it as a deteriorating facility lacking basic amenities like clean water and electricity.
“This healthcare facility doesn’t have the resources to treat severe illnesses, and patients often need to be transported to Takai hospitals, which becomes impossible when the roads are flooded,” said Ado Muhammad.
Kano Times has learned that the primary healthcare center lacks functional facilities, with only one staff member available at the hospital.
Aliyu Nasiru, a youth leader, expressed his concerns about the state of the healthcare center. “In times of emergencies, we have to travel far for help because this clinic has neither medicine nor equipment,” Nasiru lamented.
He added, “We rely on herbs more than this facility; it’s better to pray for health than depend on it. Even the water here is unsafe, and if there’s no light, we have to bring our own torches for treatment.”
Many in the community have called for urgent intervention, not just for the road, but for the healthcare center that serves as a lifeline for Kayarda and neighboring villages. With residents often left to their fate, the area remains in dire need of government attention and the completion of promised projects.
Kano Times contacted Ubale Ibrahim Lakwaya, Director of Personnel Management (DPM) at Takai Local Government, who is in charge of the local government. He acknowledged the community’s concerns and confirmed that efforts were underway to address the delays in the road project.
However, for Kayarda’s residents, these assurances ring hollow until tangible progress is made on both the road and their healthcare facility. Without urgent action, Kayarda remains an example of how unfulfilled promises can leave entire communities in peril.
