Residents of Federal Low Cost Housing Estate, a sprawling area in Bauchi metropolis, have sent a Save-Our-Souls (SOS) message to the Bauchi State government over their plight, following last weekend’s downpour which led to the damage of the culvert in the area, thereby cutting off the area from other parts of the state capital.
The downpour, which lasted for about three hours, led to flooding in the area and the destruction of the multi-cell culvert located on the low cost bypass, as well as part of the road leading to the community.
People, particularly those with cars and motorcycles, now have to find alternative routes before they can access the community.
Residents who spoke with Community News pleaded with the state government to urgently reconstruct the damaged culvert in order to alleviate the sufferings they had since been subjected to, adding that both social and commercial activities were being hampered in the community.
They informed that motorcyclists now charge them extra fare to convey them to and from the community as the motorcyclists have to go through alternatives routes to access the community.
One of them, who is a shop owner close to the damaged culvert, Musa Dauda, told Community News that the rain, which caused the damage, lasted for more than three hours, adding that with the destruction of the culvert, transportation to and from the community was becoming difficult.
According to Dauda, “The heavy rain lasted for more than three hours. The effect was, indeed, quite disastrous because almost the entire area was flooded and water was entering people’s houses and shops. Even my shop here was not spared as goods were destroyed by flood.”
He noted that though the state government had tried to ensure proper drainage in the area with the construction of waterways, the effort was not adequate, pleading that the Governor Isa Yuguda administration should help residents of the area.
“The state government constructed water channel with a view to ensuring free flow of water but their effort is not enough. I am appealing to the state government to urgently come to our aid in this area by reconstructing the washed away culvert in order to allow easy access to this area,” he said.
Speaking on the development, the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Engineer Muhammad Damina, noted that the culvert, which was constructed by the past administration in the state, was washed away by continuous downpour over the years.
While urging the people to exercise patience, Damina assured that the state government would take necessary steps with a view to addressing the situation on time. Nigerian Tribune
