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The people of Tunga Maje Community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State are appealing to both state and local governments to come to their aid following the dilapidated state of the road and the bridge linking them with other villages.
The bridge, which has been in a deplorable state for several years, finally caved in this rain season, making the road which was not in good condition more difficult to ply.
For the past years, residents and motorists have resorted to contributing money among themselves to buy bags of cement and other materials to carry out temporary repairs on the bridge.
Community leaders say this self-help approach has become unsustainable, especially as the structure weakens further with every rainy season.
Motorists plying the route lamented that the road and the bridge have made transportation of farm produce to markets extremely difficult, leading to huge post-harvest losses.
Many farmers now have to pay exorbitant charges to transporters as result of increase in transportation fare occasioned by the bad condition of the road.
Residents revealed that each time repairs were carried out, they only lasted a few months before the bridge became dangerous again.
Commercial drivers, Mr Salman Yusuf and Mr Tunde Akin, who spoke to our correspondent, lamented the high cost of maintaining their vehicles due to the bad state of the road.
They expressed concern that if the government fails to act quickly, the condition of the road might be worsening this rainy season, and further add to the economic hardship.
A farmer, Adams Amuda narrated how he lost several farm produce because he could not transport them to the market in time.
“We have been spending our little money to repair this bridge every year. We buy cement, sand, and pay labourers, yet the bridge always collapses again. We are tired. Government should help us,” he said.
Youth leaders in the community have also raised alarm over the safety of schoolchildren, traders, drivers and farmers who risk their lives to ply the road especially the broken bridge to go to Kaiama.
Elders of the village recalled that appeals had been sent several times to both the local government and state Ministry of Works, but no meaningful response had been received.
They warned that without urgent intervention, the community as well as others might face a humanitarian crisis as access to basic amenities becomes impossible.
Speaking on the situation, the chairman of the motorists’ union in the area, Mr. Yakubu Musa, called on the government to construct a new standard bridge, describing the current one as a “death trap.”
He said the contributions by villagers and drivers could no longer sustain the repairs due to rising costs of cement and other building materials.
The Chairman further explained that transport fares have tripled since the road and the bridge become dilapidated, making life unbearable for residents who depend on daily trips to nearby towns for trade and medical care.
He urged the government to consider the plight of the poor rural dwellers who have been abandoned for too long.
Some residents also lamented that the road and the collapsed bridge has discouraged traders from outside the area from coming to buy farm produce, thereby affecting the local economy.
Many fear that hunger and poverty may worsen if nothing is done to restore the vital link.
A pregnant woman, Mrs. Habibat Abubakar, and other women expressed worry over how they struggle to get to the nearest health centres for medical care.
“If labour starts suddenly, I don’t know how I will ply this road to get to the hospital. This is why we are begging the government to come to our rescue quickly,” she said tearfully.
Speaking on behalf of the residents, an elder of in the community, Baa Adamu appealed to both state and federal governments to treat the matter as an emergency.
He stressed that the bridge was originally built several decades ago and had never been rehabilitated by any administration.
Meanwhile, efforts to speak with officials of the local government for comments proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.
However, residents vowed to continue pressing for urgent government intervention to prevent further loss of lives and property.
By Binta Abubakar Mora
