Motorists, commuters, and residents have expressed their disappointment at the lack of action from National Assembly members representing Taraba and Adamawa states regarding the deplorable condition of the Numan-Jalingo road.
They argue that the road has become a death trap for passengers and drivers and is negatively impacting the economy of the North-East region. Heavy trucks transporting goods to the region are now reconsidering their routes due to the road’s condition.
The recent collapse of the Lamurde bridge, the main bridge linking Taraba and Adamawa states to nearby Gombe State, has exacerbated the situation, making life even more difficult for travellers. This bridge connecting the three states collapsed last month, rendering the road impassable, even for bicycles.
Passengers and drivers who spoke to The Guardian expressed frustration and accused their elected officials of inaction. They highlighted that despite the immense hardship caused by the road’s condition, no response has been received from any representatives in the National Assembly or the Federal Executive Council (FEC) from either state.
Bashir Umar, a regular user of the road for the past 10 years, expressed his disappointment at the apparent inability of the leadership of both state governments to address the issue. He stated, “None of our representatives, whether from the Senate, House of Representatives, or the FEC, have spoken on this issue, not even on social media.”
A truck driver, Uloma Ezekiel, said the situation affected him and his colleagues. He stressed that many travellers have lost their goods to armed robbers due to the road’s condition, while others have sustained injuries in accidents caused by the poor road surface. Ezekiel is now making plans to avoid the road entirely when travelling from Onitsha in Anambra State.
Hajiya Hussiana Bala, who recounted being robbed several times, called on both state governments to reach out to the federal government for immediate intervention.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a staff member of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) said that previous national governments had awarded contracts for the reconstruction of the road several times, but nothing positive came of it.
The FERMA staff also revealed that the agency was not given the opportunity to handle or supervise the road’s construction. He highlighted that politicians own most of the companies involved in the project.
The Guardian observed that North East governors vowed in various forums to draw the federal government’s attention to the road. However, these promises have not materialised, and the road continues to deteriorate.
Senator Shaibu Lau, representing Taraba North, spoke through his Special Assistant on Projects, Gidado Aminu. He said that he and Senator Bino Yaro from neighbouring Adamawa State had been working tirelessly to fix the road. He admitted that the contractors handling the project lack the capacity to complete it and that plans are underway to revoke the contract.
Gidado stressed that the road’s poor condition has been causing Senator Lau and his colleagues sleepless nights and expressed his belief that it will soon receive much-needed attention.
The Guardian noted that the collapsed bridge is located on a road under construction for several years, compounding the frustration of residents who feel abandoned by their leaders.
Calls for immediate intervention have been ignored, and the silence from key officials, including the state governors of Adamawa and Taraba, has further angered the public.
