Residents of more than 33 communities along the Minjibir to Ungogo road in Kano State have raised fresh concerns over the worsening condition of the road, which erosion has turned into a major safety risk and a serious threat to livelihoods.
The residents said the road, once a major route for farming and trade, has become a death trap after more than two decades of neglect, with large portions washed away and bridges severely weakened.
One of the victims of the deteriorating road is Mallam Audu, a resident of Bagurawa Gidan Gabas, who lost his life last year after falling into a deep eroded section of the road.
His younger brother, Musa, said the incident happened at night while the deceased was trying to avoid an oncoming vehicle on the badly damaged road.
“He was going home on foot, and because the road was bad, he tried to dodge a vehicle and fell into it. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.”
An okada rider in the community, Zubairu Lawan, said he had fallen off his motorcycle several times while trying to avoid ditches created by erosion along the road.
“I have fallen several times and injured myself. I have seen people fall and die here. A new motorcycle becomes old after just two months because of the potholes.”
Beyond accidents and injuries, residents said the poor condition of the road has severely affected farming, which remains the main source of livelihood for most communities in the area.
The Deputy Secretary of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the area, Umar Abdulrahman Sambauna, said farmers now record huge losses because agricultural produce is delayed for long hours before reaching markets.
“Farmers end up eating their produce, while the rest gets spoiled because they cannot move it out of the community. Some are even planning to stop farming because there is no gain.”
Also speaking, the Ward Head of Gandurwawa Gabas, Kabiru Haruna, said farmers are now forced to transport their produce on motorcycles to neighbouring communities before loading them into trucks, a process he described as costly and time-consuming.
“We move hundreds of perishable goods to the east and south, but we rely on motorcycles and donkeys, which is really challenging. The government should do the needful.”
He recalled that when the road was still motorable, at least 100 trucks carrying perishable farm produce were regularly transported to the eastern and southern parts of the country.
A visit to the area showed that erosion has eaten deep into the road and surrounding farmlands, damaging at least three bridges linking the affected communities.
The leader of the Western Minjibir Development Association, Sani Haruna, warned that urgent intervention is required to prevent the affected communities from becoming completely isolated.
“If the rainy season comes without the road being fixed, we may not be able to go out to carry out our daily activities. Sometimes we fix the road temporarily just to be able to use it.”
Records show that the last major construction of the Minjibir to Ungogo road was carried out during the administration of former Kano State governor, Abubakar Rimi, nearly 49 years ago.
Residents said that while several road projects are currently ongoing in the heart of Kano city, communities along the Minjibir–Ungogo corridor continue to suffer years of neglect.
However, there are indications that relief may be in sight, as reports indicate that the Kano State Government has invited contractors to submit proposals for road rehabilitation projects, including the Minjibir to Ungogo road.
Reacting to the development, the councillor representing Gandurwawa ward, Umar Ibrahim Adamu, urged the state government to award the contract and commence construction before the rainy season to prevent further loss of lives and livelihoods.
“God has blessed us with business-minded people, but the road is stopping our progress. The Governor should please help start the road before the rainy season to ensure smooth movement and delivery.”
Responding to the concerns, the Kano State Commissioner for Works, Marwan Ahmad, said “the state government remains committed to rehabilitating dilapidated roads across both urban and rural areas of Kano.”
For now, residents along the Minjibir to Ungogo road say they can only wait and hope that a road which has defined their hardship for decades will finally become safe and accessible again.
