Kaduna Residents Raise Alarm Over Alleged Mismanagement of El-Rufai’s $350m World Bank Loan
Public outcry is growing across Kaduna State as many stakeholders express deep concerns over the reportedly skewed distribution of a $350 million World Bank loan secured by the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Twelve local government areas—predominantly among the state’s most underserved—are said to have seen little to no benefit from the urban development projects the loan was intended to support. These LGAs include Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Ikara, Jaba, Kagarko, Kajuru, Kauru, Kudan, Makarfi, Sanga, Soba, and Zangon Kataf.
Despite continued repayment of the facility, investigations by Arewa PUNCH suggest that road infrastructure in these areas remains largely undeveloped, with several projects abandoned shortly after ceremonial flag-offs. In some cases, construction never advanced beyond the groundbreaking stage.
Civil society organizations and opposition lawmakers have increasingly called for transparency, alleging that the funds were deployed unevenly. Many point fingers at a concentration of development efforts within Kaduna North, which allegedly received up to 76% of the total projects, leaving Central and Southern zones in neglect.
Comrade Phelimon Andrew, a transparency advocate from Zango-Kataf, urged lawmakers to audit the entire Urban Renewal Programme, questioning the true impact of the loan. “Kaduna people deserve to know where every dollar went. These projects were not just for show,” he insisted.
Residents have echoed this sentiment. From Sabo Tasha to Kauru, abandoned roadworks have caused immense frustration, economic hardship, and environmental issues. Musa Yakubu, a commercial motorcyclist, described the incomplete roads as financial drains on locals. “We fix our bikes more than we earn,” he said.
Business owners like Gimbiya Musa in the Television Garage area lament a severe decline in customers due to inaccessible roads. “Our shops are empty, and no one’s telling us what comes next,” she complained.
In Zitti Village, Zango Kataf, residents report half-finished drains turning into dumping grounds and roadways being overtaken by children playing and waste. “It’s a daily reminder that the government forgot us,” said a local elder.
