The Federal Government has allocated ₦9.4 million for the construction of a drainage system in the Madangala community of Katagum LGA, Bauchi State.
However, the project has not yet commenced, despite being scheduled for 2024, as residents claim the delay has worsened flooding in the area, raising concerns over transparency and accountability in project implementation.
Adamu Muhammad, a resident of Madangala community, was eagerly awaiting the Stormwater Drainage Project meant to alleviate years of seasonal flooding.
The project, captured in the 2024 budget, was to be implemented by the Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA), according to Tracka, a transparency initiative of BudgIT Foundation, which monitors public projects across Nigeria.
Residents said the project was supposed to begin after a survey visit in May 2025, but since then, there has been no sign of work on the site.
Corroborating the agency, Adamu told WikkiTimes that, more than seven months into the year, not a single block has been laid.
He said residents are worried the delay could leave the community vulnerable during the rainy season.
Adamu added that past experiences of waterlogged roads, collapsed structures, and stagnant water contribute to health hazards like malaria and cholera outbreaks.
Like residents of Madangala, Tracka also called on the implementing agency to provide a public update on the status of the project.
“We call on the Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, the implementing agency, to provide the public with details of this project.”
As the rainy season deepens, the residents continue to face risks of flooding due to poor drainage, and many are urging immediate action to prevent a preventable hardship in the area.
Attempts to reach the implementing agency for comments have so far been unsuccessful. The message sent to the agency had not been responded to, as of press time.
