By Milcah Tanimu
Residents along the Plateau-Kaduna border are calling for urgent road repairs. Communities like Riyom, Saminaka, Manchok, and Jengre expressed their frustrations. They urged the state governments to address the neglected access roads.
In interviews in Jos, residents described their roads as “death traps.” They highlighted the severe hardships and economic losses caused by long-term neglect from both state and federal governments, despite repeated promises for improvements.
Dachung Job, a resident of Saminaka, stated, “Traveling from Saminaka to Zaria is a nightmare. The road is filled with potholes, making it difficult to drive safely.” He added that a journey that once took two hours now exceeds five hours, impacting daily life. Job also noted the increased risk of armed robbery along these routes, recounting a recent incident where a friend lost N159,000 to robbers.
Sandra Peter from Riyom emphasized that community efforts have only temporarily maintained the Riyom-Kaduna-Abuja road. Residents often find themselves stranded during the rainy season due to flooding. “We have repeatedly asked both federal and state governments to repair these roads, but nothing has changed,” she said.
Peter expressed frustration over the visible neglect, saying, “Every year, we see FERMA officials mapping the roads, but no repairs follow. We wonder where the budget for these projects goes if it isn’t used for repairs.”
She concluded by appealing to Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang and Kaduna Governor Uba Sani to recognize the residents’ plight and take immediate action. These communities deserve better access and support from their governments.
