I visited Kaduna and couldn’t recognise my once-favourite state

I grew up in Kaduna, hitting my teens in the early 90s, and of course life was good. So good, that we were spoiled for choice of what to do, and where to go. The schools were excellent, too, and I speak for the private and public ones (I went to a mixture of both, […]

I grew up in Kaduna, hitting my teens in the early 90s, and of course life was good. So good, that we were spoiled for choice of what to do, and where to go. The schools were excellent, too, and I speak for the private and public ones (I went to a mixture of both, and that’s fodder for another story, another day). The streets were clean, and safe (if a crisis wasn’t on, that is), and food was good and cheap. Life, like I said, was good. But my father, being a senior military man, was posted to Lagos, and we had to go with him. A-levels in another country ensured I didn’t get to visit my beloved Kaduna for a while. Until recently.

I graduated, came back to Nigeria, got a job in Lagos, and all that. I even married, and I’m currently expecting a child, by Allah’s grace. But on my way to Kaduna some months back, for a friend’s wedding, I bumped into an old friend on my flight. We began with small chit-chat, but by the time the plane landed, she had given me some shocking updates, like how the city is basically split into two, and how unsafe it is to drive round at night, and she went on with the horror stories. The most shocking was the kidnapping! ‘Really?’ I asked, and she pointed a spot on the road leading to the city, where a mass kidnapping had once taken place. It sent shivers down my spine.

Kaduna! My beloved Kaduna, where my heart has been all these years, has turned into a nightmare version of itself, and I’m deeply, deeply disturbed about it. We got into town in the evening, with some light still left, and at a couple of junctions all I saw were loads and loads of school age kids in rags, begging, along with cripples and the usual suspects. I don’t mean the odd two or three (or even four) beggars at a junction, but a veritable horde of them. Looking hungry too, and I tried to give alms, but they rushed, and their sheer number scared me, and I withdrew. After I dropped the money, causing them to enact a kind of feeding frenzy. All I could think of was ‘Is this Kaduna?’

Then all over the GRA, there are ramshackle shops, mini markets, stalls, and all sorts of no-doubt unapproved activity going on. Isa Kaita Road, Waff Road, Sultan Road, the list goes on: All looking terribly unkempt and the worse for wear. At that point, I gave up. I was so heartbroken that when we went out for suya in the evening (another story for another day), I didn’t pay mind to the street lights which were not on, not lighting up anything. This, obviously, is not the Kaduna of my childhood. It’s not even a shadow of its former self. It’s a joke, and not a funny one, either.

Not to get political, but I think it is time I invoked the name of the governor, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai. He did wonders in Abuja, which citizens are still enjoying today, so he should please bring that touch to Kaduna, his state, our state, now. Fine, we get that the loan he tried to get to pursue the masterplan was frustrated by political miscreants, but now that he has supportive senators by his side, let’s see some much-need progress, physically, in Kaduna State. Because, after all is said and done, it’s still my favourite place in the whole world, warts and all.

Lola-Maliki wrote in from Lekki Phase II, Lagos.

CISLAC calls for electoral justice

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) is seriously concerned about the outcome of the gubernatorial elections in some states of the Federation. CISLAC is particularly worried that elections in some states, including Sokoto, Bauchi, Adamawa, Plateau and Kano states are declared inconclusive. We encourage INEC to maintain high level of integrity in the nation’s electoral process; and ensure pronouncements are made in accordance with rule of law, and not political sentiment.

Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Executive Director, CISLAC, Abuja

Examination malpractice is killing education

Examination malpractice is one of the major challenges in Nigeria’s educational system today, whether we like it or not. Yes, there are teachers that are not qualified, but this is a different issue altogether that can easily be addressed if due process is followed in testing them before they are being employed.

Students these days find it hard to study because their schools and a higher body that is even more organised, is responsible for the malpractice that takes place during exams. Sometimes teachers take the money given to them because the malpractice is so organised that if you decline it would still be recorded that you are in on the deal. Until exam malpractice is curbed (especially in secondary schools) and children are allowed to be tested, our educational system will continue to crumble.

Garba Yahaya, Kano

This Lagos building collapse

That happened in Lagos where a school collapsed is very tragic. But Nigeria would probably continue to have more of these cases if we continue to churn out unqualified engineers or even architects. Some basic building principles are easily ignored by builders, especially when it comes to building foundations. This is why the lower part of many building peel off.

Authorities must take the bull by the horn and stop illegal building projects from taking place. It does not always have to reach the point of demolition. When it does, however, authorities should never compromise. Perhaps this incident will help us have a rethink as a people on how we undertake building projects. After all, what is the use if the structure comes down?

Yomi Tayo, Lagos

That abandoned Library in Kuje

There is a library in Kuje, yet many residents remain unaware. There is a simple reason for that. The local authority there has done nothing to put it to use for years now. Inside the library there are new computers, desks and chairs, a sign that there was a plan for a digital library. But the place remains unused. If the chairman had done his bit out of concern for the people, students would have found a place to read and conduct research. However, till date Kuje does not have a single operational public library. This library is behind the Road Safety and Fire Service office in Quarters, Kuje.

Sunday Ishaya, Kuje, Abuja