Road Projects: Katsina Residents Vow To Respond During Elections

Residents of communities along the Mararrabar Kankara–Dutsinma–Katsina road, have condemned the suspension of the road rehabilitation project, accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s aide, Ibrahim Kabir Masari and Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda of instigating the contract’s cancellation.

The communities including Birchi, Burdugau, Yargoje, Tudu, and Yantumaki, expressed anger over what they described as a deliberate act that has left one of Katsina’s busiest federal roads in deplorable condition.

Speaking with journalists, residents alleged that Masari and Radda influenced the Federal Ministry of Works to revoke the road contract, which had been awarded to an indigenous firm, Vipan Global Investment Resources Ltd.

According to the residents, the move was politically motivated and has made the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) increasingly unpopular in the state.

The residents warned that the development could negatively affect President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, given Katsina’s large voting population.

“This action shows clear disregard for the welfare of Katsina people, We are bitter and will respond appropriately during the 2027 elections” a resident said.

Findings revealed that the ₦147.6 billion road project was awarded to Vipan Global Investment Resources Ltd on April 5, 2024, with Contract Number 8489, following a Certificate of No Objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and approval by the Federal Executive Council.

The contractor mobilized to site in May 2024 and began works while awaiting payment of the mobilisation fee.

However, on July 16, 2024, the Ministry of Works issued a letter, signed by Engr. Goni Mohammed, Director of Highways (North West), ordering the company to stop work immediately and vacate the site.

The ministry cited lack of funds as the reason for the cancelation of the contract despite a ₦10.9 billion budgetary provision for the project in the 2024 federal budget.

Residents dismissed the ministry’s explanation, accusing Minister of Works, David Umahi, of acting on political motives allegedly instigated by Governor Radda and Masari.

Masari, who serves as Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Political Matters, had reportedly claimed that Governor Radda recommended the cancellation because the contractor was linked to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Community members rejected this justification as unfair and divisive.

“Is it a must that everyone must belong to the ruling party?” a youth leader, Tanko Bello, from Yantumaki asked rhetorically.

“Are members of the opposition not citizens who deserve to be patronised by their own government?”

Bello described the road’s condition as a disaster waiting to happen saying the cancellation has worsened insecurity, crippled local businesses, and disrupted farming activities.

“Accidents happen almost daily. Trucks get stuck for hours, traders lose goods, and security forces struggle to respond to emergencies. Bandits now exploit the bad road to attack motorists,” he lamented.

Residents argued that punishing the firm due to perceived political ties is unjust and harmful to the public interest.

“Those who advised the government to revoke the contract are people who can’t even win their local governments during elections,” one resident said insisting that they are damaging the President’s image.”

Residents said it was surprising that President Tinubu who has been an opposition figure all his life could easily succumb to a pressure to revoke contract simply because it is being handled by an opposition figure.