For twenty years the people of the highly impoverished village of Durumi III in the Garki area of the? Federal Capital City, Abuja, watched in horror as the main bridge to their community suffered in the hands of erosion and flood. Knowing fully that their bridge will soon give way to the forces of nature is a hard reality considering the impact it will have on their tiny village of over 2000 people.
Durumi III is the smallest of three sister villages situated just? walking distance from the famous Apo Legislative Quarters, where most of Nigeria’s lawmakers have their official residences. The other villages are Durumi I and II. Inhabitants are mostly the Gbgagyi people and a host of other Nigerian ethnic groups.
Surrounding this pathetic village are beautiful estates which boast of the necessary amenities a city should have. While the people of this village will accept the poor conditions in their community, what they will not accept as their fate is the collapsing bridge that connects them to the main city.
For two decades, the bridge? suffered neglect as erosion and high running water continued to wash away the structure leaving just a piece of the road available for use. There is a deep crater as a result of constant washing of laterals which connects the two sides of the bridge which is frightening to behold.
The condition worsened in 2011 when the signs of damage became real to people. The situation has now become dangerous as the bridge may give way at any moment as the rains intensify. In spite of the damage, heavy duty trucks with full load and other private vehicles still pass through the narrow path .
The chief of Durumi III, Bawa Iyah, in responding to a question from GOVERNMENT, said he has made several complaints to the authority of Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC: “I have complained several times to the council alerting them to the condition of the bridge.
The council’s chairman, Micah Jiba, said that he cannot do the job, the repairs can only be done by the FCTA through the Minister.”? Subsequently, Iyah was promised that his letter of complaint would be forwarded to the FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed for action. The letter was sent to the Chairman, AMAC on 5th June, 2012 and since then nothing has been heard either from AMAC or from the FCT Minister.
Iyah further stated that the second bridge to the village located a few hundred metres away is also threatened by erosion a few hundred metres away leavinghis people in dire need of assistance.Durumi III has no government clinic? or school to cater for the needs of the village. Interestingly, many residents of the village are government employees who work in the main city and that alone worries Bawa Iyah.
Meanwhile, residents of Durumi III cross the bridge with fears that the bridge can give way anytime in this season of heavy rains. If this occurs, the woes of the people will turn to misery.
The people of Durumi III await the FCT government to come and rescue them. These people cannot be left to suffer while the government is not far away from them. The FCTA need to Check it!
Culled from LEADERSHIP Government.