Yarawa Road is a vital arterial road connecting rural communities to Kano, northern Nigeria’s most important commercial city, but the road has been in a comatose condition for years.
The present condition of the road, which is just five kilometers from the city, is making it difficult for residents of the Tokarawa community of Nasarawa LGA to access education and health services, in addition to isolating the community from growth and opportunities.
For years, numerous potholes have eaten into the untarred road, which links Tokarawa and Tsamiya communities to Hadejia Road, making it impassable, especially during the rainy season.
A poor drainage system has worsened the bad state of the road, turning an average rainfall into a nightmare. Properties are submerged and lives are endangered whenever it rains.
Mallam Haruna decried that his family has been living in a flood-ravaged house without reinforcement since August 2024, reiterating that they have no option.
“This is my house and I lost it because of the flood caused by the bad road. I was not the only one affected. Others in the community also lost their homes because of this,” he said.
While Malam Haruna and his family continue to manage the only option they have, Ibrahim Adamu told Cool FM/Nigeria Info a similar sad story. In his case, the house was destroyed.
“As you can see, I lost my home too, because of the nature of the road. When it rains heavily the water flows into our homes. The government should look into this,” he pleaded.
Our findings revealed that the infrastructural decay is compounded by the operation of heavy trucks transporting construction materials and equipment on the deteriorated road.
While this transportation is essential for the local economy, the constant pressure from large vehicles has severely damaged the village’s road infrastructure.
The weight of the trucks has worn down the road, causing water to flood residential areas with hundreds of houses already affected, according to the chairman of Yarawa Community Development, Saifullahi Ibrahim.
“The trucks are the cause of our problem. We document our plight to fix the road but no response. We also sent our plight to the governor but we don’t know if it gets to him. But in case it did not, we hope he will get this one.”
Residents initiated community-driven efforts to patch up sections of the road, but these efforts are not enough to address the problem.
A resident of the affected community, Muhammad Sunusi Usman, said, “Years ago, we spent N3.7 million to fix the road, but after repairing it, the company will still spoil the road.”
Another resident, Abu Muhammad, said, “It’s difficult to use the road. Whenever it rains, pregnant women find it difficult to use.”
“Honestly, everything as regards welfare that the government does for its people, we have never experienced it. Did the government forget us, we don’t know?” she asked.
Speaking to Cool FM/Nigeria Info, Ammar Garghon, a representative of Charcoal Company, one of the companies operating in the area, said the company is ready to help rehabilitate the road.
“We want to bring the excavator to level the road, and we want the community to follow up with other companies to assist in addressing this issue.”
In addition to the infrastructural issue, the only burial ground in the community is running out of space, as pointed out by a community leader, Ahmed Sulaiman Yahya, who urged wealthy individuals to extend the cemetery.
“From Gezawa border to Hotoron Arewa, they all bury their dead here. Currently, we have e the space. But there is a land beside the graveyard and the owner is demanding N6 million, so we are hoping a Good Samaritan will come to our rescue,” he hopes.
Despite the phone calls and text messages sent to his office, the State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Marwan Ahmad could not be reached on the Yarawa Community’s predicament.
Regardless, speaking through the Information Officer of the Nasarawa LGA, Haruna Gunduwawa, the Chairman of the area, Yusuf Imam Shu'iabu Ogan Boye, said the LGA is aware of their plight, promising to address it soon.
“The chairman is aware of their plight. He promised to visit the community to address their plight for good,” he assured.
With the potential threat to their lives, properties, and livelihoods in the next rainy season, the residents of Yarawa Community are appealing to the concerned authorities to come to their aid as soon as possible.
