Dan-Dutse on the Show: A Report from the Sideline! -By Ismail Misbahu

Funtua is one of the 36 Local Government areas of Katsina state. Together with other ten local government areas, it formed part of Southern Katsina Senatorial District—one of the three Senatorial Districts after Katsina Central and Katsina North; and with Dandume, it’s one of the 15 federal member constituencies in the state.

The strategic location of Funtua town within the sub-regional road-transport nexus commercial and industrial growing areas of Northern Nigeria certainly had considerable influence on its formation at the cross-junction of various road—linking many cities and towns of the North. The town has remained an important junction of various road networks—from Zaria to Sokoto, and from Katsina to various North-western states of Nigeria. This development coupled with the increasing number of population has reflected too often in the corresponding expansion of the build-up (residential) areas s well as the construction of new feeder roads that provided easy access for movement to motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians as well.

It was not until 1978 with the prepared Max Lock Master Plan for the town that two major arterial roads (I.e. Zaria—Sokoto and Katsina roads) were constructed. This is because before this period, traffic along the major arterial roads was fairly smooth. However, due to the rapid increase in the number of vehicles plying the roads most especially motorcycles, circulation and parking problems were on the increase especially around the Central Round About and the Market Area. This development necessitated the construction of the eastern (Bakori) and western (Sokoto) bye-passes purposely to ease the traffic circulation along the major arterial roads of Zaria—Sokoto and Katsina roads—which have the highest volume counts and peak flow (PCH/Hr).

The continuous densification of residential areas as a result of the increase in migrant population facilitated by the construction of these roads, more so spelled out the need for the construction of more feeder roads to serve as local distributors to the main arterial roads. Until the triumph of Yar’adua as the governor of Katsina state (1999-2003 and 2003-2007), most of these local road distributor networks had remained tarred having a severe short in utility and drainage facilities. Kudos to Yar’adua whose tenure accomplished the task of constructing the various feeder roads across the town: Mairuwa, Faskari, Idi Maska, Tafoki/Kasuwar Mata, Tudun Wada, Bishir Idris Nadabo and several others.

Until now, these were the only feeder roads with coal tar. Others (including the emerging new ones in the new expanding areas) had remained tarred with poor drainage system. These include feeder roads in Gangaren Rafin Kasa—Unguwar Wanzamai, Bagari the new expanding areas of Yan Bokolo and Sabuwar Abuja. In the dry season, most of these roads were becoming horribly dusty, and while in the rainy season, the excess flow of dust as a result of poor drainage always resulted in the overflow of water and caused flood. Flood washed away the smaller particles and exposed the larger surface of the roads making movement difficult to motorists and motorcyclists.

Today all these have come to an end, and no one behind it but Dan-Dutse, Hon. Dan-Dutse; the House Member, Funtua/Dandume. Although NAK General Merchant Co. assisted in no measure to the improvement of some of the poorly dilapidated roads in the town by laying the necessary foundation that’s required, this task however, has now been taken over by the right hand—Dan-Dutse took up the gauntlet! The wonders he’s making for the town cannot be overemphasized. His amazing feeder road construction has gone beyond the ‘politics of next score’ but one that’s superb to its kind! The pictures speak clearer then the nuance of the phonetics.

This development comes at a time when the World Bank initiated program under the NEWMAP—Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project is undertaking the reconstruction project of the already existing seasonal drains across the town. These seasonal drains were first constructed by the North-Central state (i.e. the Old Kaduna) under the F.A.D.P—Funtua Agricultural Development Project—initiated by the same World Bank lasting for almost three years from 1967 to 1970. A sum of £27.9 million was loaned to the North-Central state at that time, part of which was headed towards financing an agricultural development program involving 100,000 small farmers in Funtua Division (covering 7,500sq kilometres) of Katsina Province.

The construction of these seasonal drains were part of this program—the major of which started from Government College and spread over five kilometres within the town i.e. passing through Law Cost area across Katsina road—through Bagari valleys and then drains its contents at Mairuwa Dam. The second drainage line commences from the General Hospital area and flows northeast to Sokoto road and then drains its contents through Bagari to Mairuwa Dam. Along this pattern, a major drainage channel cut a way across Sokoto road at a single span bridge close to Unity Bank and links the major drainage line at Bagari village—from where it discharges its contents to Mairuwa Dam. The third drainage pattern commences from G.R.A and industrial area, and joined the other two major drainage lines mentioned above at a location near Bagari, and then drains its contents at Mairuwa Dam.

These storm water drainage lines which have severely degraded over the years are now under reconstruction. The risk to flood as a result of poor maintenance of these seasonal drains—hitherto had been mere corridors of most erosion hazards has now been stabilized. In all, the reconstruction of the seasonal drains and the feeder roads by Dan-Dutse greatly reduced the risks of damages to homes, destruction of properties and farmlands as well as prevented the unprecedented siltation of the community streams and lowlands. Kudos to you all!

Dan-Dutse really is doing the good job! The people of Funtua are acknowledging this effort. This has reminded them of the excellent market de-congestion project he initiated and actualized at a simple spatial pattern, the new extension of stalls and lay-outs constructed in the market certainly reduced the risk of fire outbreaks which occur almost every autumn of the year. The solar boreholes and street lighting couldn’t also be fell short of expression. Keep flying the flag! It’s really wonderful!

What’s more important now is the question of inadequate water supply. Shortage of drinkable water in the town is remarkable! The demand for water continued to increase as the population of the area also increases. The short term supply of the water as at 1996 to 2000 was at an average capacity of 18 million liters which was relatively adequate to meet up the demand of about 180,000/200,000 inhabitants in the town as at that time. However, the continuous increase in the population – which as at 2006 census was about 225,156 i.e. beyond the Max Lock (Review) projection of 180,000, certainly had a serious implication on the efficient supply of water to the town. This situation is worsened by the general problem of power supply from the National Grid, as well as the high cost of fuel and the operational cost of 2 Number’ Standby Generators (i.e. of 1250KVA) capacity at the Mairuwa treatment plant. The shortage of skill manpower at the water treatment plant also worsened the situation.

Besides, the construction of feeder roads and other commercial and institutional establishments in the town had seriously damaged the various distribution pipelines (i.e. of 1/2 inch, 1-2inches and 3quarter inch pipelines) connecting the residential areas of the town.

The above situation seriously affected the supply of water which had now covered only about 60% of the town, while the remaining 40% – comprising mainly the new expanding areas was not covered by the distribution network. This is in sharp contrast with the 54.5% presented by Max Lock. This shortage in the supply of water had brought the idea of supplying it intermittently to the East and West of the town – each at 2-days interval to another. However, it is a matter of fact that even at this level, the supply of water has not been extended to all the areas mentioned above. Access to public water supply has reduced to about 27% and therefore many people come to rely on other sources i.e. wells, boreholes and vendor providers.

It’s good if all these will be reviewed and considered. We really have hope because we have Dan-Dutse!l

Mr. Misbahu wrote via:
ismailmusbahu15@gmail.com.