•A motorcyclist going to one of the communities, and FCT Minister Wike
Residents of Chapu and Alu communities in the Alu-Mamagi Ward of Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have expressed concern over the deplorable state of their roads and lack of bridges.
Some of the residents who spoke when our correspondent visited the communities on Tuesday, said the dilapidated roads linking neighbouring Lambata, Alu, Kurege and Kangpo communities had caused them severe hardship for many years.
They said the communities made several appeals to the government to intervene by grading the roads and constructing bridges and culverts to no avail, reports Daily Trust.
Impact on farming, economy
A resident of Alu, Yakubu Musa, said the residents, particularly farmers, constantly struggled to transport their produce to the Abaji market.
He said, “Drivers charge high rates to convey produce to the Abaji market despite our efforts to fix parts of the road. With the prices of farm produce dropping significantly, drivers take virtually all the money, leaving farmers with next to nothing.”
Musa added that residents were often stranded during the rainy season when streams and rivers became impassable due to flooding.
He added that the communities were usually cut off during the period, thus paralysing social and economic activities.
He further said, “If our women want to grind guinea corn or maize, they have to trek or go by bike to neighbouring Lambata village. On days of heavy rains, no one can cross the stream until the water level subsides.”
Water scarcity, infrastructure gaps
A resident of Chapu, Dangana Abdullahi, said residents relied on water from the Gurara River and Fadama farms, where women often had to dig swampy grounds to find water.
He noted that the only functional hand-pump borehole serving the community broke down many years ago.
He said, “Our women, especially during the dry season, trek a long distance to the Gurara River to fetch water.’’
He urged the council’s authorities to intervene, noting that despite being peasants, the lack of a road network had turned their daily lives into a nightmare.
Appeals to authority
The Village Head of Chapu, Alhaji Saidu Chado, said, “If the government upgrades the roads and constructs bridges, it will bring relief not only to Mamagi, Alu and Chapu, but also to people from Lapai. It is a vital shortcut.”
The chief lamented that successive governments made empty promises regarding healthcare, water and road infrastructure.
He said, “The only time you see government officials or politicians here is during election campaigns. They promise heaven and earth, but you never hear from them again once the election is over.”
He appealed to the Chairman of the area council, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Abdullahi, to collaborate with the FCT Administration (FCTA) to grade the roads, build a health centre and provide water.
Reacting, the Chief of Staff to the council chairman, Mohammed Kandi, said the council had already captured the grading of the roads and the construction of double-cell culverts in next year’s budget.
He added that, “The council chairman, during his campaign to those communities, promised to provide motorised boreholes, and that remains a priority.”
