Fact-Check: Is it true that Kwankwaso didn’t construct a single road in Igbo dominated Sabon Gari area of Kano when he was the governor?

Fact-Check: Is it true that Kwankwaso didn’t construct a single road in Igbo dominated Sabon Gari area of Kano when he was the governor?

Claim: Some Facebook users claimed that former Kano State Governor and Presidential flagbearer of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso didn’t construct a single road in Igbo-dominated Sabon Gari Area of the State because of his religious bigotry. 

Full Text: One of the Facebook users named Nweke Nnaemaka Joshua commented on a DailyNigerian post on Facebook claiming that the former Governor of Kano State didn’t construct a single road in Sabon Gari, an Igbo-dominated area of the state during his administration. 

The comment he made in the comment section reads verbatim: “Kwankwaso is a religious bigot when he was the governor of Kano State he refused to build any road around Sabongari because they are occupied by Igbos [sic].”

Verification: An investigation conducted by PRNigeria on the allegation revealed that Kwankwaso was the initiator of the Sabon Gari Flyover bridge named after the late Alhaji Alhassan Dantata, which is regarded as the longest flyover in West Africa. 

The bridge was later completed and commissioned during the Abdullahi Umar Ganduje Administration by Vice President, Yomi Osinbajo in January 2020. 

The flyover with 9 clovers is located in the busiest commercial district of Kano, it spans a distance of 2.75 Km. It serves the two largest markets Sabon Gari, and Singa Markets. 

Speaking to PRNigeria on the matter, Kwankwaso’s close associate, Yusuf Sharada said: “Kwankwaso was the first Kano State Governor to have stopped riots that mostly result in burning shops of Igbos at the Sabon Gari Market and destroying their properties in some areas in Kano. And that is done in favor of the minority Igbos who live and do their business in Kano. 

“Everyone knows that Igbos are known for business at Sabon Gari. Having observed that there were lots of traffic jams in the market area, Kwankwaso initiated a 2-kilometres flyover to avoid congestion thereby easing their business activities. He did half of the project before the incumbent governor completed it. 

What Are Flyovers? 

A flyover, also known as an underpass, or overpass, is built over an existing road or a railway in such a manner that it crosses another road or railway. It is a concept that allows roads to be built over roads to facilitate faster movement of vehicles and people in an era of congested traffic in metro cities.

It helps in saving time for a commuter whether they are pedestrians or running automobiles and have become very commonplace in big cities these days.

Conclusion: The claim that the former Governor of Kano State Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso didn’t construct even a road in Igbo dominated area commonly known as Sabon Gari is untrue. 

Available evidence found after a series of verifications conducted by PRNigeria indicated that Kwankwaso initiated the flyover in Sabon Gari Area. He also gave appointments and scholarships to Igbos during his tenure.

Therefore, the claim that Kwankwaso didn’t do anything for the Sabon Gari area because of religious bigotry due to Igbo dominance in the area is false.