By Ibrahim Abubakar Jombali
Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris’s rural road programme is targeting improved access to markets, healthcare and other essential services across farming communities, according to his Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment and Orientation, Ibrahim Abubakar Jombali.
In an account of the programme, Jombali highlighted projects covering Kalgo, Diggi, Tungar Lafiya, Maidahini and communities in Bagudo, Zuru, Sakaba, Fakai and Danko Wasagu.
He said the approval and commencement of the projects reflected an effort to extend infrastructure investment beyond major towns and strengthen connections between rural settlements and economic centres.
Road Programme Focuses on Agricultural Communities
Jombali said inadequate roads increased transportation costs, restricted market access and made it more difficult for farmers to move produce to buyers.
He argued that improved routes could reduce those obstacles, help traders reach customers and make journeys to schools and health facilities easier.
According to him, the road programme forms part of a wider development approach involving agricultural extension services, storage, education, healthcare and access to finance.
The focus on rural connectivity adds to the development issues discussed in The Bureau Journal’s reporting on Kebbi State’s anniversary and development priorities.
Aide Highlights Supervision and Drainage
Jombali said Idris had emphasised construction quality, technical supervision and the need to design roads for local conditions.
He identified adequate drainage as particularly important during the rainy season, noting that poor drainage and substandard materials could shorten the lifespan of road infrastructure.
The aide said the administration had also prioritised maintenance planning to help keep completed routes usable beyond their inauguration.
He maintained that the practical value of the projects would depend on their durability and the improvements residents experienced in daily travel.
Project Information and Community Feedback
According to Jombali, the administration has published project information covering contract values, contractors, completion timelines and implementation milestones.
He also said communities had channels for reporting poor workmanship, delays and abandoned projects.
His account did not provide the individual contract figures, road lengths or completion dates for the routes mentioned.
Jombali said project selection considered economic importance, population, access to essential services and the severity of infrastructure gaps.
Access to Schools and Healthcare
The aide said rural roads should be assessed partly by whether they make it easier for children to reach schools and patients to obtain medical care.
Education and healthcare have featured in other state interventions, including the appointment of a governing council for AFUSTA and accreditation efforts at the health college in Jega.
The administration’s education record has also been discussed in reports on primary school teachers’ remuneration and teachers’ salaries and allowances.
Completed Roads Remain the Measure of Delivery
Jombali argued that approvals and construction launches should be distinguished from completed infrastructure.
He said the programme should ultimately be judged by whether farmers could transport produce more easily, traders could reach markets and communities could access essential services with fewer difficulties.
The aide maintained that quality construction, transparent expenditure, timely completion and sustained maintenance would determine the lasting value of Kebbi’s rural road investment.
Get breaking news and latest updates directly on WhatsApp
