From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The people of Agbashi community in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have expressed worry over the delay in the construction of 25 kilometers Idadu-Agbashi road already captured in the state government’s 2021 budget.
In a statement issued on Thursday and jointly signed by the Secretary General, Agbashi Development Association (ADA), Prince Gambo Ogiri, Chairman, Agbashi Youth Mobilisation Network (AYMN), Mr Donald Epoh, and President, Agbashi Students Union (ASU), Mr Idakwo Benjamin Esewija, they said the construction of the road would improve security and socio-economic activities in the community and its environs.
The statement explained that the state government under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule, had earlier included the Idadu-Agbashi road project for construction in Doma South Constituency in the 2021 Appropriation Law of the state but contract for the project was yet to be awarded.
It further explained that due to the current status in part of the state, innocents lives have been lost due to the activities of armed robbers, kidnappers and herdsmen who have taken advantage of the bad road network to unleash mayhem on the people and travellers.
“We strongly decry the gruesome murder of a young graduate of the Federal University of Lafia and a member of the community, Mr Kabiru Awashu on April 23, 2021 and numerous others on the road which has become a nightmare for travellers in recent times.
“Furthermore, the recent skirmishes between herdsmen and Tiv farmers in the area has equally worsened the situation, crippling human and vehicular activities on the road which is in dire need of government attention.
“The project if completed will not only open up the area but add value to the economic development of the state through agriculture and other socio-economic ventures,” the statement read.
The statement further noted that the situation has also deprived the people their major source of livelihood which is farming and turned the once vibrant community to a shadow of itself.
It therefore, called on the state government as a matter of urgency to award the contract for the road project for the benefit of the people of the community and the state at large.
