Katsina Residents Urge Radda To Reconstruct Dilapidated Dutsen-Safe-Yarkutungu Road

Residents of Dutsen-Safe in Katsina Local Government Area of Katsina State have appealed to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda to urgently reconstruct the deteriorating Dutsen-Safe-Yarkutungu road, which they said is hampering commercial activities and movement in the area.

The residents made the appeal during a visit to the community, describing the road as hazardous and increasingly difficult to navigate, particularly during the rainy season.

They said the road, which connects Dutsen-Safe with the popular Yarkutungu Market, had remained in poor condition for several years despite repeated appeals to the government and relevant authorities.

A resident, Babangida Abba, said the road had become a persistent source of hardship for residents, motorists and traders, adding that its poor condition had also contributed to accidents.

Abba urged Governor Radda to include the road in the state’s ongoing urban and rural renewal projects, saying its reconstruction would improve transportation and stimulate economic activities.

He said, “I have lived in this area for more than 20 years, and the road has been a persistent concern to residents. It has been causing accidents. We are appealing to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda to come to our aid.”

Another resident, Fatima Khalid, said sections of the road become almost impassable whenever it rains, as floodwater takes over parts of the route.

Khalid, who sells children’s items at Yarkutungu Market, also raised security concerns, alleging that criminals exploit the poor condition of the road to attack commuters, especially at night and during market days.

She appealed to the state government to reconstruct the road to improve accessibility and reduce congestion.
Similarly, a trader, James Chukwu, said the bad condition of the road makes it difficult for traders to transport goods to the market during the rainy season.

He noted that many motorists avoid the road whenever it rains because of the muddy and slippery terrain.
Another resident, Mohammed Idris, said the road had caused him significant financial losses due to frequent vehicle repairs.

According to him, reconstructing the road would reduce accidents and vehicle damage, improve accessibility and boost commercial activities in the community.

The residents also expressed concern that the poor state of the road had worsened the impact of rainfall on the community and increased the difficulties faced by commuters.

Efforts to obtain the state government’s reaction to the residents’ demand were unsuccessful as the Commissioner for Works and Housing, Sani Magaji-Ingawa, reportedly neither answered calls nor responded to messages sent to his telephone as of press time.