A major drainage in Kerau, Katsina, has been severely damaged, posing a significant threat to the lives of residents in the area.
Hikaya Newspaper reports that the drainage, estimated to be around 50 years old, has been eroding continuously, putting nearby homes at risk of collapse, especially during the rainy season.
Residents Alhaji Yusuf Dankano and Alhaji Musa Jikamshi have been struggling for years to address the issue, but to no avail. Despite efforts to protect the canal from erosion, the situation has become uncontrollable. The residents have written several complaints to the state government, but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
The damaged drainage has not only put residents’ homes at risk but has also led to the spread of diseases. Umar Abubakar and Habibu Ahmed Dara pointed out that the area has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects, increasing the risk of communicable diseases.
Rabi’atu Ahmed Danbaba expressed concern about the hardship the water shortage is causing, especially for children during the rainy season. She also warned that the situation will worsen during the upcoming drought if the drainage is not repaired.
The residents are calling on government officials, including Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, Hon. Sani Aliyu Danlami, Hon. Abubakar Aliyu Albaba, and Governor Malam Dikko Umar Radda at large, to intervene and build a new drainage system to save the people from suffering. They argue that the area contributes significantly to the government and deserves attention.
The residents’ pleas highlight the need for urgent action to address the issue and prevent further suffering, especially during the upcoming rainy season. The government is urged to take immediate action to repair the drainage and provide relief to the affected residents.