….Is it a collaboration between the Govt and FAAN?
The Agenda of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of his urban renewal mandate to make the state a model of development,Yola the capital base of administration a city of Excellence has sigh by residents a good idea worthy of praise. While to others is an untimely agenda and waste of resources considering how backward is the state in terms of educatio, agriculture,health and poor network of roads in the major towns of the state.
Suffice it to say that the Flyover construction awarded to Triacta company has generated a lot of both positive and negative comments by the people in the state since the inception of the government stands to have them in the state.
The total filling station junction, one of the busiest area in the state because of the linking network of roads to Jimeta modern market, Yola International Airport and Galadima Aminu way, the road that linking major commercial banks including Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Jimeta is seen work in earnest the Triacta construction company have commenced.
Worrisome to so many people, the government of Adamawa under Fintiri administration could not make a good provision of access roads. The airport road has being the only leading road to every parts of the state capital, hence making people to only access streets of Demsawo and Nassarawo, an already narrowed paths, with no convenience to drive safely to your desire destination.
The pressure of using uneasy streets of Demsawo and Nassarawa, with bitter, complains by the Yola/Jimeta residents, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has allowed commuters to access through its residential area some weeks ago.
The decision of the state government to construct two flowers of Total filling junction and police roundabout has turned to be a bitter experience as there are no real arrangements to access other paths.
FAAN management has now found another means to generate revenue to itself as 200 hundred is charge to any road user through its premises on a particular plying of the access road.
The question now to ask is that:
Can this be a means of getting revenue by FAAN? or extorting the residents of Adamawa state? Is this what Adamawa people wish to have? Was it part of the negotiations with the state residents? Has it ever been done elsewhere to collect money because of flyover bridges or construction of all sort is ongoing? Is the government aware of all this? Adding and Inflicting unnecessary pains to its residents means development? Is it a collaboration between the state government and FAAN? Government officials are not being charged, why are they not paying the suppose revenue generation to FAAN knowing the fact that they are separate entities of government?
If Development is a process that creates growth, progress, positive change or the addition of physical, economic, environmental, social and demographic components. Then the government of Adamawa and FAAN management need to look inwardly.
In my own opinion, the purpose of development is a rise in the level and quality of life of the population, and the creation or expansion of local regional income and employment opportunities, without damaging the resources of the environment and damaging the quality of people’s life then I think there is a question to answer over what is going on in Adamawa because of flyover contribution.
Many states like Kano, Kaduna, Taraba are also constructing flyovers to reduce traffic congestion and boost socio-economy activities of their States, we have not heard it that money is being collected for commuters or vehicles owners plying access to pay.
An understanding developed that economic growth did not necessarily lead to a rise in the level and quality of life for populations all over the world. I think the government need to place an emphasis on specific policies that would channel resources and enable social and economic mobility for various layers of the population. But for development in a state of a less densely populated to be subjected to what others may see extortion or revenue generation the government is not achieving its desire goal.
Adamawa Government and FAAN should fix this deliberate infliction of pains. It’s not in the over interest of the generality of the people being governed. This excruciating pains is written all over the masses. The pains of electricity and Fuel hike is enough to keep one in a stable of off balance in trying to meet up. Using this to the people of the state is adding salt to an injury
Tom Garba, FIMC, FBDM
Wrote this from Yola
