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For decades, road infrastructure has been one of the most pressing challenges facing communities across Kaduna State. From Southern Kaduna to the agrarian and semi arid belts of Giwa, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru, Kauru, Kachia and Soba, poor road networks limited access to markets, healthcare, education and security support. This is why road development remains one of the clearest ways citizens measure the impact of governance.
In recent times, public debate has increasingly compared the two years of Governor Uba Sani’s administration with the eight years of former Governor Nasir Ahmad el Rufai. This article examines the facts surrounding road development under both administrations, with emphasis on citizen impact, community experience and governance approach.
ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER GOVERNOR UBA SANI
Since assuming office in May 2023, Governor Uba Sani has adopted an inclusive development approach that prioritises people, livelihoods and community stability alongside infrastructure delivery. Within roughly two years, official records show that his administration awarded over 80 road projects covering an estimated 770 to 785 kilometres across all 23 local government areas of Kaduna State.
Unlike previous patterns where infrastructure was concentrated mainly in Kaduna metropolis, road projects under Uba Sani have reached deep into rural and semi rural communities. Township and inter community roads have been constructed or rehabilitated in parts of Kauru, Kachia, Kajuru, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Soba, Kubau and Igabi local government areas. These roads now link farmers to markets, villages to health facilities and communities to security and economic opportunities.
One of the most impactful projects is the 35 kilometre Gadan Gayan, Gwaraji, Kujama Junction road, which traverses multiple communities that had remained isolated for decades. For residents, the road has reduced transportation costs, improved access to social services and enhanced security patrols in areas previously difficult to reach.
Available data shows that between 21 and 32 road projects have already been completed and commissioned, with many others at advanced stages. Several of these roads are located in communities that had not witnessed major government road intervention for over forty years.
Beyond the physical roads, the social impact of Uba Sani’s two years has been widely felt by citizens. His administration deliberately avoided large scale demolitions that displace families, traders and small businesses. Road construction was carried out with community engagement and compensation where necessary, ensuring that livelihoods were protected rather than destroyed.
Governor Uba Sani also committed over thirty three billion naira to complete inherited road projects from the previous administration, preventing abandonment and restoring public confidence in continuity of governance.
ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER GOVERNOR NASIR EL RUFAI
Governor Nasir el Rufai’s eight year administration focused largely on urban renewal and city modernisation, particularly within Kaduna metropolis and surrounding urban areas. Major roads, bridges, underpasses and dual carriageways were constructed to improve traffic flow and urban aesthetics.
Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Chikun and parts of Igabi local government areas experienced improved urban road networks. Strategic roads linking industrial zones, rail corridors and government institutions were prioritised as part of broader city planning reforms.
However, for many citizens, particularly in rural and semi rural communities, the impact of these road projects was limited. Large sections of Southern Kaduna and central rural local governments remained without functional road access to markets and public services.
In addition, the urban renewal process during this period was accompanied by widespread demolitions that displaced traders, homeowners and informal workers. While aimed at enforcing planning regulations, these demolitions had significant social and economic consequences for affected citizens, which shaped public perception of the administration’s infrastructure policies.
Another limitation in evaluating this era is the absence of consistently documented public data on the total kilometre length of roads constructed statewide over the eight years, as most records focus on individual projects rather than cumulative impact.
COMPARATIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT
When measured strictly by citizen experience and social impact, many residents argue that the two years of Governor Uba Sani have had more direct and widespread impact on ordinary people than the eight years of Governor el Rufai.
Under Uba Sani, road construction has come without mass displacement. Farmers, traders and small business owners were allowed to continue their livelihoods while benefiting from improved access roads. Communities that had felt forgotten for decades now see government presence through tangible infrastructure.
This contrast does not deny the importance of urban roads built under el Rufai, but it highlights a clear shift in governance philosophy, from city centred development to people centred and community friendly infrastructure delivery.
CONCLUSION
Road development in Kaduna State should be viewed as a continuous process built over successive administrations. Governor Nasir el Rufai focused on urban road modernisation, while Governor Uba Sani, within a much shorter time, has expanded road access across rural communities with greater sensitivity to citizens’ welfare.
For many Kaduna residents, the difference lies not only in the number of roads built, but in how those roads were delivered. Roads that improve lives without destroying homes and livelihoods leave a deeper and more lasting impact.
Sustaining this people focused approach, alongside transparency and maintenance, will ensure that road infrastructure continues to serve as a tool for unity, economic growth and social stability across Kaduna State.
By Suleiman Abubakar, Kinkinau.
SB E-news.
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