The decision by Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to build a fifth bridge over the Kaduna river as part of his administration’s urban renewal projects was celebrated by many. The 230 meters long bridge is meant to reduce vehicular traffic between the Railway Station and Ahmadu Bello Stadium roundabouts leading to and from the city center.
Indeed, even before its completion of the project, residents of Kabala Costain and Barnawa communities say the bridge has shortened their commute time. “I no longer need to take Keke Napep from my house to Stadium roundabout, and from there enter bus to Barnawa. I now simply walk the distance from my house, which is about a kilometre,” says Halima, a resident of Kabala.
Dateline Nigeria observes that pedestrians and even motorcyclists now use the bridge from Kabala to Aliyu Makama road in Barnawa and vice versa, even though the project is yet to be completed. Farmers near the river also find it easier to access their farms.
However, days of ceaseless rain have left the access road leading to bridge with visible cracks. “I first saw the cracks at the Barnawa end of the projects on Sunday. Today (Monday), it seems the cracks have widened, which has become a cause for concern for us who use the route virtually everyday,” Kabiru Dalha told Dateline Nigeria.
“I am however happy to see Chinese engineers from the CCECC, the construction company handling the project, assessing the level of damage. I don’t know whether to call it a major or minor damage, but the Chinese did not show any sign of being overwhelmed. I pray they fix it in good time because delay can only lead to more damage by the rain,” Dalha said, adding that the Chinese had earlier left the site even though the project is yet to be completed.
Geoffery Atabo and his friend Moses Pada raised questions on the quality of work. “The Kaduna State government should query its engineers who failed to provide effective supervision for the project. I doubt if they did all the necessary preliminary exercises before just filling the place with sand. All of this area used to be part of the river, but it is clear they didn’t take that into consideration,” said Pada who introduced himself as an engineer.
“We really have a long way to go. See the bridges that were constructed decades ago by British engineers decades ago but still standing. But this one is already getting damaged even before being used. What will happen when articulated vehicles start using the road?” Atabo said.
Malam Sagir Mudi, whose farm has been flooded by the overflowing Kaduna river, says “My major concern is not even my farm. My worry is the fact that this laudable project is already being sabotaged by some unscrupulous elements. The concrete slabs on the pedestrian walkways are already being destroyed by scavengers who are stealing the iron rods.
“Unfortunately, there is no arrangement for security at the site. I think community leaders from Kabala Costain and Barnawa should consider joining hands to provide security here, because people follow this road even at night. The government should ensure that proper repair work is undertaken otherwise the possibility of a major mishap can’t be ruled out.”
The CCECC in Kaduna has been contacted for comment.
Attempts to reach the Kaduna State Deputy Governor Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, who chairs the Infrastructure Development Council, were not successful. However, a source close to her office said “since she was made the chairperson of the infrastructure council, the deputy governor did not waste time in hitting the ground running.
“You can see that with the way she insisted on the redesigning of the Kabala Costain-Barnawa bridge. Initially, there was a sharp bend upon alighting from the bridge on the Costain end. She challenged that and new houses have now been marked to give way, so that the traffic going or coming from the bridge will flow without hitches. I have no doubt that she will ensure that the engineers fix the bridge properly.”
