Bwari residents decry bad condition of road, urge govt’s intervention
Road
By Veronica Dariya
Bwari (Abuja) Sept.11, 2018 (NAN) Residents of Sabon-Gari area of Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have decried the bad condition of roads in the area, while pleading to the council administration to come to their rescue.
The residents made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
NAN correspondent, who visited the area, reports that the road, which gave access to a highly populated residential area in the district, was almost inaccessible because of pot holes.
There was also large pool of rainwater that was stored in some of the pot holes, making it difficult for vehicular movements.
A goods retailer, Mr Vincent Iheanacho told NAN that the road has always been a problem for a very long time, either in the rainy or dry season.
He said: “Every year looks like the worst we have seen. This year, we had hopes that the road was going to be worked on because they came and poured layers upon layers of gravels and sand as if the work was in progress.
“To our greatest surprise, that was where it ended. Now, you can see they have made it worse.
“I don’t think anyone would believe work was done on this road this year, especially now that the rain is falling non-stop.
“Please, if they can only pour coal on the road, it will save us from not only the rains but the dust during the dry season because that one is coming soon too,” he said.
Similarly, another resident, Madam Chi Amos said that the condition of the road was frustrating because it discourages commercial motorbikes from bringing passengers into the area.
Amos said that once one is caught up outside the area in the late evening or when it is about to rain, no motorbike wants to go to the area because of the bad road.
She also called on the council to proffer a lasting solution to the situation, while appreciating the council’s effort so far.
Another resident, Malam Abdullahi Jere, who spoke in Hausa, told NAN that he has been residing in the area for years and has continued to witness a “shallow effort” of the government towards rehabilitating the road.
According to him, government needs to do more than it is doing so far to make the road passable and improve its condition.
” Sabon-gari road might be the worst road in the area but the truth remains that this township has very terrible roads.
“Different administrations have come and gone and this road is still like this.
“This year, workers came and poured sand and gravels in an effort to smoothen the road for easy access but look at it now; all that money is wasted because it was not well done. This road needs to be tarred.
“My fear is, now with the elections coming, who will listen to our plight, all we will keep hearing is they will do it and once elected, they forget their promises.
” I pray to God to come to our rescue. ”
NAN recalls that the Chairman, Bwari Area Council, Mr Musa Dikko had at several meetings with stakeholders in the area, continually assured residents of efforts being made to rehabilitate the township roads for easy access.
Dikko, during a recent visit to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) headquarters, told the board executive that the council was working with the FCT administration to ensure the roads within the town of Bwari were permanently in good conditions.
He explained that the contract for the job had been given years before his administration came but was yet to be executed.
“It is quite unfortunate and once a contract has been signed and given to a contractor, it cannot be given out to another, that contractor must complete the job.
” This is why we are in this dilemma and pleading with all residents to be patient with us as we are also working with the minister to ensure what needs to be done, is done; it will soon be a thing of the past,“ he said. (NAN)
DVK/COA/AFA
============
By Constance Imasuen/Felix Ajide