NAN-H-101
Rural
By Awayi Kuje
Bassa (Nasarawa State), Feb. 21 , 2017 (NAN) Residents of Bassa Community in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, have urged the state government to pay special attention to rural areas so as to reduce the hardship there.
Some of them, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday, opined that providing basic facilities in the rural areas would also check the temptation to migrate to the urban centres.
One of them, Malam Abdul Ewaha, a trader, said that the lack of roads, health facilities and electricity had made it difficult for youths, trained on various skills, to set up their own businesses.
He added that the lack of portable water had often caused waterborne diseases, especially cholera, typhoid and gastro-enthritis.
“Government ought to provide these facilities to encourage the youths to stay at home and farm.
“The more youths we have on our farms, the better for the nation’s desire for a diversified economy,” he said.
Another resident, Mrs. Charity Emeka, a teacher, appealed to Gov. Tanko Al-Makura to extend his developmental stride to the rural communities “through the provision of good roads, schools, electricity and pipe borne water.”
“The presence of these infrastructural facilities in our community will bring speedy development and reduce youth’s restiveness, poverty and improve on the standard of living of the people,’’ she said.
She said that the absence of electricity in the area had negative effects on their businesses.
Corroborating the views of others, a farmer, Mr Obawa Yakawa, said that the absence of infrastructural facilities had impeded economic growth.
“Over the years, government promised to provide good roads, water, electricity among others, but we still lack these facilities.
“These amenities, when provided, will engage our youths and make them self-reliant which will reduce their involvement in crimes,” he said. (NAN)
AKW/ETS
=======
Edited by Ephraims Sheyin