Gov Uba Sani’s Projects Transform Birnin Gwari After 20 Years of Neglect

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Residents of Birnin Gwari Local Government have praised Governor Uba Sani for launching landmark infrastructure projects in the area, including the 36-kilometer Bagoma-Gagumi road, hospital upgrades, and a new market, thereby ending decades of neglect and enhancing security and livelihoods.

The Managing Director of Kaduna Roads Agency (KADRA), Dr. Abdullahi Baba-Ahmed, shared this on Tuesday during a routine inspection tour of ongoing roads and other infrastructure projects in Birnin Gwari.

Speaking to journalists during the tour, Dr. Baba-Ahmed noted that the team began with the 36-kilometer asphalt road from Bagoma to Gagumi, the longest single road project built in Kaduna State in the past 20 years. “The work is progressing, and the contractor is laying asphalt,” he said.

He added that Birnin Gwari was among 12 local governments that had no completed kilometers of road in the last 12 years and had not seen a project of this size in over 20 years. “Birnin Gwari borders about four different states, such as Kebbi, Zamfara, and Niger. So this is a very, very important road,” the KADRA MD emphasized.

On the way back, Dr. Baba-Ahmed noted that the team also inspected the modern livestock and grains market under construction in Birnin Gwari. “The contractor is working on-site, as you can clearly see. Work is progressing. Before the end of this year, that project will also be completed,” he said.

The KADRA head and his team later visited the Jibril Mai Gwari Memorial Hospital, a referral facility in the region. He explained that the hospital is among 16 general hospitals being renovated, upgraded, and equipped across Kaduna State’s 23 local governments.

“About eight have been completed. This particular one, in the next one or two months, the contractor will hand over this project. It’s not just renovation; it involves remodeling, upgrading, and equipping. The contractor is on site finishing the work and will deliver before the end of July,” he said.

Asim Hamza, Secretary of the Hospital, said work is progressing as expected, and the facility should be finished next month. He highlighted the hospital’s regional importance: “Birnin Gwari Local Government and surrounding communities, as the DG mentioned, neighbors from Zamfara, Niger, and Katsina State all come to this hospital. There will be significant benefits from this expansion, upgrading, and equipment provision.”

Hamza mentioned that the main challenge had been a lack of equipment, which forced residents to travel to Kaduna or Niger State for emergencies.

“This ongoing work includes providing equipment, not just physical renovations. It will bring great relief to the people of Birnin Gwari in terms of easier healthcare access rather than traveling all the way to Kaduna,” he said. He also noted that staff were already preparing a large storage area for the new equipment and expressed gratitude to the state government for its “thoughtful and long-term vision.”

Residents of Gagumi also praised the quality and impact of the road project. Chinamaka Marvelous, a trader and farmer who has lived in the village for about 10 years, said: “They are doing a good job. As we see the road, compared to other ones, I think this is the best job we have ever had.

Governor Uba Sani is doing a great job on this road, and again, we have peace now. We can go to our farms. Another resident, Garba Umar of Gagumi, said the projects have renewed hope. “We are very thankful and very happy with this government because before this government came, we suffered with security and social welfare. We didn’t have it in this area. Now we see this development. We are happy and ready to support Uba Sani and the party,” he said.

Dr. Baba-Ahmed urged the people of Birnin Gwari to protect the projects. “If it gets damaged, we are the ones who lose. The government is executing it, but it is meant specifically for them. They should take care of this project so that no damage or vandalism occurs,” he appealed.

Governor Uba Sani’s administration states that its infrastructure efforts in Birnin Gwari reflect a commitment to opening rural access, boosting agriculture and trade, improving healthcare, and enhancing security in border communities.