When Rain Falls, Tunga Residents Become Prisoners in their Own Community

For residents of Tunga in Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State, rainfall is no longer simply a welcome relief from the heat. Instead, the arrival of dark clouds often brings anxiety over how they will get in and out of their community.
The road linking Tunga, from Gidan Gajiyayyu to the Bye-Pass, has deteriorated so badly that heavy rainfall can quickly turn it into a muddy, waterlogged and nearly impassable route.
Residents say the condition of the road has made everyday life increasingly difficult, particularly during the rainy season. Schoolchildren struggle to get to classes, traders face difficulties transporting their goods, workers risk arriving late at their workplaces, while residents seeking medical care may be forced to delay their journeys.
“Whenever it rains, we become worried because the road becomes very difficult to pass,” a resident, Bello Mustapha, said. “Vehicles struggle to move, while pedestrians have to walk through mud and water. Sometimes, people are forced to wait until the water recedes before they can leave the area.”
For another resident, Ismail Garba, the problem goes beyond transportation. He said the poor condition of the road affects the safety, dignity and quality of life of people living in the community.
“We are not asking for luxury. We only want a road that our children, elderly people, traders and motorists can use without fear, especially during the rainy season,” Garba said.
Commercial tricycle operators are also feeling the impact of the deteriorating road. Residents said transport fares sometimes increase during rainfall as drivers spend more time navigating the worst sections, while some operators reportedly avoid the area altogether when the roads become difficult to pass.
The residents are now appealing to Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to urgently intervene and address the condition of the road.
They also called on the Gwale Local Government Council and other relevant authorities to inspect the affected route and begin the necessary road construction and drainage works.
For the people of Tunga, a properly constructed and adequately drained road would mean far more than easier transportation. It would improve access to schools, markets, healthcare facilities and workplaces—and, most importantly, restore their freedom of movement whenever the rain begins to fall.