Special Report: Residents groan as Kwara govt leaves N130m road project half-rehabilitated

By Yushau Abdulwasiu

As this reporter rode through the rehabilitated section of Budo Effo road in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State, the surface was smooth. However, it only took three minutes to bike from the bustling junction to where the rehabilitation work stopped, leaving a long stretch of the road untouched. You could almost feel the frustration of the residents who live here, hoping for a road that might finally make their daily lives a little easier.

Afeez Faoziyah is a resident whose husband was struck by a reckless tricyclist trying to avoid potholes on the road. The accident was so severe that he could not stand before being rushed to hospital for treatment.

Faoziyah explained the setbacks the incident has caused her family, as her husband’s broken legs have not healed quickly.

She said her husband, Shuaib Afeez, was replaced at work due to his prolonged absence, despite his efforts to keep his job.

“My two children were sent out of school for owing two terms of fees; they are playing around in the street while their mates are in school. I have also become a night street beggar so I can feed my sick husband and children at home,” she said, her eyes filled with tears.

The road project

The road from Budo Efo Junction to Ita Aisa was only partially rehabilitated, stopping in front of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kwara State Chapter building. The longer stretch leading to other important facilities, such as the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) office, remains untouched.

Ajao Kareem, a community member, expressed his initial happiness when work began, hoping the rehabilitation would extend to his area.

Kareem stated he left his workplace for over two weeks to monitor the project and “ensure the rehabilitation was standard”. He said he surveyed the entire road from Budo Efo to Ita Aisa.

“We were shocked when the project stopped in front of the CAN building. We began asking why, but couldn’t get any tangible information. After further investigation, we learnt that it was Kwara’s Deputy Governor, Elder Kayode Alabi, who facilitated the project, and it was done purposely because of complaints from the Christian Association of Nigeria,” he said.

UDEME could not independently verify this claim.

Kareem added that several community’s efforts to get the road completed since 2021 have been futile.

“It’s unfortunate that if there were no CAN church in our area, there wouldn’t have been any rehabilitation at all,” he remarked.

Garuba Waheed, a local tricyclist, also lamented the situation.

“This is evident religious segregation; a leader who should promote peace and unity in Kwara is now being biased,” he said.

Background

Located in the Ganmo Area, the road tagged Ganmo Borstal Training Centre road by the state government was created to facilitate the movement of motorists, tricyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.

To address challenges faced by the road users, the Kwara State Government, under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, allocated N129.5 million for its rehabilitation in 2021. However, despite this significant funding, the road remains only partially rehabilitated.

The project was awarded to a contractor, M. Sulaiman Ent. Ltd, under the supervision of the Kwara State Ministry of Works.

Residents’ reactions

During a visit in July, this reporter found that residents whose homes and businesses on the rehabilitated section were pleased, while others on the ungraded portion lamented.

Nurudeen Abiodun, a community resident, noted the seasonal challenges: “We experience unbearable dust in the dry season, while the rainy season brings potholes filled with dirty water.”

“We often settle disputes between motorists who accidentally splash dirty water on pedestrians due to the many potholes. Sometimes, these quarrels escalate into serious fights,” he added.

Shehu Aisha, another resident who has lived in the community for over ten years, expressed her dissatisfaction with the half-rehabilitated road.

“This road needs immediate attention. We (residents) are tired of inhaling dust. We suffer in both the rainy and dry seasons. I urge the Kwara State Government to come to our aid and complete the remaining work,” he said.

Another resident, Ayuba Gafar, stated, “Our community should have developed more than this, but the bad road hinders its growth. Sometimes, people avoid this road entirely and take alternate routes because of its condition.”

Contractor details not available

When this reporter searched for M. Sulaiman Ent. Ltd. on the Corporate Affairs Commission’s portal, no results were found.

An FOI letter seeking more details about the project was sent to the Kwara State Ministry of Works, but as of the time of this report, no response has been received.

This report was produced under the Udeme project of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).