By Egbe Attah
Worried by the deplorable condition of the Federal Road within Otukpo metropolis of Benue State, the acting chairman of Otukpo Local Government and Director General, Services and Administration (DGSA), Mohammed Audu, has called on residents of the area, organisations and public spirited individuals to assist in providing temporary measures pending when a permanent reconstruction would be carried out by the federal government.
Audu, who made the appeal at a stakeholders’ meeting he convened, Friday at the local government secretariat, said as a people they could not fold their arms and watch the bad road claiming lives and property and hindering economic development of the area.
“I call this meeting for us to look into the conditions of Otukpo Federal Road.
Although, it’s a federal road and constructing it is beyond our scope, we must do something temporarily to address the situation. We cannot watch the road claiming our lives and property as well as hindering our economic activities. Otukpo is the headquarters of Idoma nation. Thus, we must do something to salvage it from destruction, whether you’re an Idoma person or not, as long as you’re living or doing business here, we appeal to you to help us mend the road. We don’t want money but materials like sand, stones and anything that can help in such road construction”, the chairman stated.
In his response, a youth leader in the area, Ngbede Oine, thanked the chairman for his concern for the Idoma nation, stressing that the meeting was apt.
He revealed that, in the past efforts were made by some individuals and organizations to reconstruct the said road but were frustrated by some members of the community.
He suggested that further meetings should be held with the stakeholders of the area to intimate them of the danger of continuing waiting for federal government to reconstruct the edifice.
All others who spoke including one, Abel Ogaba, observed that there was a need for the people of the area to help themselves as a community in addressing the deplorable road instead of endlessly waiting for government.
It would be recalled that the federal government under the leadership of Ex-President Mohammadu Buhari awarded contract for the reconstruction and dualization of the road but till date the situation remains sorrowful as it was.
