BTvNEWS

Calls Intensify for Completion of Abandoned Projects and Provision of Basic Amenities Across Affected Communities

By AbdulHakeem Mutiu Adejumo-Ajeseku, Kaduna-Nigeria

BTvNEWS: The lingering abandonment of the Kabala West–Nariya road project in Kaduna has continued to generate deep frustration among residents, who describe the deteriorating condition of the area as a painful reflection of years of infrastructural neglect and unfulfilled governmental promises. What was initially conceived as a strategic road project intended to improve mobility, economic activities, and social development has instead become a symbol of hardship, poor governance, and wasted public resources.

Residents lament that despite paying taxes and contributing meaningfully to the economic and social growth of the state, Kabala West and Nariya communities remain largely deprived of essential infrastructure and public amenities. They insist that the dividends of democracy should not be selective, stressing that every taxpaying citizen deserves access to good roads, functional healthcare services, stable electricity supply, and other basic necessities that support decent living standards.

The abandoned road project, reportedly initiated during the immediate past administration in Kaduna State, has deteriorated into a severely damaged and dusty pathway filled with potholes, erosion channels, and muddy sections that become nearly impassable during the rainy season. Commercial drivers and private vehicle owners now endure frequent breakdowns and costly repairs, while commuters battle long delays and inflated transportation fares on a daily basis.

The poor state of the road has also created serious public health concerns for residents living along the axis. Thick dust generated by passing vehicles has reportedly worsened respiratory complications among children, elderly persons, and individuals suffering from asthma and related ailments. Community members say the environmental condition has exposed them to avoidable health risks, especially in the absence of any functional healthcare center within the affected communities to adequately cater to emergencies and routine medical needs.

Many residents expressed disappointment that despite the growing population and commercial relevance of Kabala West and Nariya, the communities still lack accessible and adequately equipped health facilities. They argue that residents are often compelled to travel long distances under difficult road conditions to seek medical attention, thereby placing vulnerable patients at even greater risk during emergencies.

Beyond the infrastructural decay, residents are also protesting what they describe as unbearable electricity tariffs despite the persistent poor power supply experienced across the communities. According to several community members, households and small businesses continue to receive high electricity bills without enjoying stable electricity services, thereby compounding the economic burden already caused by the poor road network and declining business activities.

Local traders, artisans, transport operators, and small-scale entrepreneurs say the deplorable condition of the road has negatively affected commerce within the axis. The rising cost of transporting goods and services has drastically reduced profit margins and discouraged investments in the communities. Many business owners believe the area possesses enormous economic potential that could thrive if basic infrastructure and social amenities were properly provided and maintained.

Residents further lament what they describe as the recurring pattern of abandoning public projects after allocating huge sums of taxpayers’ money to them. They argue that incomplete projects not only waste scarce public funds but also erode citizens’ trust in governance and democratic accountability. Community leaders have therefore called on the government to demonstrate greater transparency, responsibility, and commitment in executing projects that directly affect the welfare of ordinary citizens.

Since the emergence of Governor Uba Sani, many residents had hoped for renewed attention to neglected communities such as Kabala West and Nariya. Describing the governor as a leader reputed for listening to the people, residents say they still believe the present administration has the opportunity to correct longstanding infrastructural deficiencies and restore hope to thousands of struggling families within the affected areas.

The people of Kabala West and Nariya are therefore passionately appealing to the Kaduna State Government to urgently intervene by completing the abandoned road project, establishing functional healthcare facilities, addressing excessive electricity tariffs, and improving overall development within the communities. According to residents, such intervention would not only reduce hardship and revive economic activities but would also reaffirm the principle that every citizen, regardless of location or background, deserves equal access to development, quality infrastructure, and the true dividends of democracy.