Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has ended over a century-long jinx with the construction of a 35-kilometre rural road linking Gadan Gayan in Igabi Local Government Area through Gwaraji and Maraban Kujama in Chikun LGA to Kauru town in Kauru LGA.
The road, which residents said had been a forgotten promise spanning generations, has now been completed as part of the governor’s push to open up rural communities through infrastructure.
The project has sparked widespread celebrations in the benefitting communities, who described the intervention as “historic, life-changing and long overdue.”
During an inspection tour of the completed road, led by the Managing Director of Kaduna State Road Agency (KADRA), Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed, residents who spoke to journalists said the road had brought relief from decades of hardship, dangerous travels, and economic stagnation.
Speaking on the impact of the project, Daniel Samuel, a healthcare worker residing in Gwaraji, said the road had transformed the daily lives of thousands who commute between these communities for work, farming, and business.
“This is more than a road to us. It is a breakthrough after over 100 years of being cut off. Traveling from Maraban Kujama to my workplace in Igabi used to be stressful, unsafe, and expensive. Public transport was unreliable, and the bad roads made it worse.
“Today, I can ride my bike to work comfortably. This road has saved me money, time, and energy. It’s a major relief for many of us,” Samuel added.
Similarly, Ibrahim Ardo, a farmer and community leader in Gwaraji, said the completion of the road had opened up economic opportunities and reconnected communities that had lived in isolation for over a century.
He recalled how residents previously had to cross the River Kaduna by canoe to reach nearby settlements, a journey he described as risky and outdated in modern times.
“We were like forgotten people. From Gwaraji to Kunfana, there was no proper route except through the river. Now, with this new bridge and road, commerce has returned.
“People are moving freely; traders are coming in, and our young people have hope again. This project is more than infrastructure — it’s restoring dignity and connection to our communities,” Ardo said.
In Kauru town, the joy was no less palpable. Comrade Samuel Musa, a farmer, said the newly completed road had drastically reduced the travel time between Kauru and Pambeguwa in Kubau LGA, enhancing the ease of doing business for farmers and traders.
“Before this road, it took over two hours to reach Pambeguwa. Now, it’s less than 20 minutes. That alone is a huge boost for us because transporting farm produce to markets is easier, cheaper, and faster.
“Governor Uba Sani has written his name in gold with this road because this is something past administrations ignored for decades,” Musa added.
Speaking during the inspection tour, the KADRA boss described the 35km road project as part of Governor Uba Sani’s broader rural transformation agenda aimed at bridging the infrastructure gap between urban centres and rural communities in Kaduna State.
“This is not just about building a road; it’s about connecting people to opportunities — economic inclusion, social integration, and job creation.
“What Governor Uba Sani is doing through projects like this is laying a foundation for long-term prosperity, especially for our rural populations who contribute significantly to the state’s agriculture and trade,” Ahmed added.
Ahmed also emphasized that improved rural road networks would enable farmers and traders to move their goods to markets more efficiently, which in turn would help boost the state’s agricultural sector and local economy.
He warned contractors handling similar infrastructure projects in the state to adhere to strict standards or face consequences, adding that KADRA had been mandated to ensure quality control and value for money on all government projects.
“Our goal is to deliver infrastructure that not only stands the test of time but also drives development, enhances productivity and improves the quality of life for all citizens of Kaduna State,” he said.
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