By Garba Abdullahi Bagwai, Kano
Motorists, traders and residents across Kano metropolis have raised concerns over persistent flooding on major roads during the rainy season, saying the situation disrupts movement and commercial activities.
Several major roads across the metropolis often get affected whenever it rains, forcing motorists and pedestrians to suspend their activities until floodwaters recede, sometimes for more than an hour after the rain has stopped.
A taxi driver, Malam Lawan, described the situation as worrisome, particularly around Baban Gwari Roundabout along Katsina Road, BUK New Site Road near the NYSC Secretariat, and the BUK Old Site by the Gadon Kaya gate.
Other areas frequently affected by flooding include Zoo Road, Kofar Fanfo along Dorayi Road, Dandinshe and several other locations across the six metropolitan local government areas.
A trader in Ja’en Quarters, Lurwanu Ado, said the Madobi underpass often turns into a pool of water during rainfall, making it difficult for motorists to cross.
He said some drivers are forced to change their routes to avoid the area.
He added that similar challenges are being experienced around some newly constructed bridges, where inadequate drainage systems make it easy for rainwater to overflow onto the roads.
Some residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, blamed the situation on what they described as excessive concentration on asphalting a road, with insufficient attention given to the construction of adequate culverts and drainage systems when awarding contracts.
They also expressed concern over the alleged allocation of plots along waterways and the filling of drainages basins, which they said historically served as reservoirs for excess water.
Commenting on the situation, a civil engineer, Engr. Alkasim Lawal, urged the Kano State Government to take urgent measures to address flooding on major roads in the metropolis in order to protect the roads and prolong their lifespan.
He said it was disheartening for government to spend huge amounts of money constructing roads only for them to be damaged because of inadequate drainage systems.
Engr. Lawal also drew the attention of the government to the increasing demarcation and allocation of commercial and residential plots along waterways. He cited the area between Dan Agundi and Kofar Fanfo, which, according to him, has for years served as a reservoir for water flowing from different parts of the metropolis.
“It is high time the government embarked on a campaign to save major roads from damage caused by flooding. Kano metropolis needs functional access roads to facilitate the easy movement of people and goods, rather than concentrating only on the construction of bridges,” he said.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Kano State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Marwan Ahmed, were unsuccessful, as he did not answer calls or respond to text messages sent to him.
Within the first three years of his administration, the Kano State Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, has placed emphasis on infrastructural development in both rural and urban areas.
Billions of naira have been allocated to the reconstruction and construction of roads and bridges across the state, with the aim of improving transportation and boosting commercial activities.
