Residents of Jalingo, capital city of Taraba state north Eastern part of Nigeria have took to the streets of the town, calling on Presidenty Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the circumstances leading the abandoning of Numan /Jalingo road project.
Our Correspondent reports that the peaceful demonstration which began at 10 o’clock in morning on Saturday, was led by Mr. Ishaq Alkasim and ended at the state ministry of works roundabout in Jalingo.
Mrs. Ishaq Alkassim, Convener of the protest, who spoke to newsmen after the protest also called on the president to probe the entire contract award process.
He recalled that the contract, which was awarded on July 24, 2017 to DEUX project Nig. Ltd at the cost of N11 Billion to be completed within 20 months has no performance from the contractor.
He said that the commatoes 104klm road has created stagnated socio economic growth of the state.
He also said that the road deplorable condition has turned motorists to soft targets for armed robbers and kidnappers among other of crimes.
He called on the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola to address the situation in which people of the area always feel frustrated when traveling on the road.
” Our eminent concern is the way the deplorable nature of Numan-Jalingo road has brought frustration to we, the people of the area.
“Playing Numan-Jalingo road has become such a traumatic experience that commuters agitate while a trip lasts.
“We are passionately calling on the President to intervene with the view to identifying where the problem that led to the abandoning of the project.
“We equally appeal to the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola to consider the plight of Nigerians living from this part of the country,’ Alkassim said.
Alhaji Nasiru Tafida, Member representing Jalingo ii in the Taraba state House of Assembly also called on the President and other representatives of the people to come to the aid of the people of the state and continue with the construction of the Numan Jalingo road.
Tafida said that lack of access roads into the state has hampered development and economic growth of the state, stressed the need for the president to find out exactly where the problem is, is it from his office, federal ministry of works or the ministry of finance.
He regretted that the people of the state would perpetually be poor due to lack of social amenities that could attract investors to the state.
However, in an interview with newsmen, member representing Jalingo 1 in the state House of Assembly, Yahuza Mai Dala’ilu described the deplorable condition of the road as worrisome which need urgent intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mai Dala’ilu who noted that, Numan-Jalingo road is one of the major roads that links Taraba to Adamawa, Gombe and the entire North East geopolitical region also urged the President to revoke the contract from DEUX Project Nigeria Ltd replace them with a better roads construction company.
Meanwhile, some commuters who spoke to our Correspondent expressed dismay over nonchalant attitude of the federal government toward fixing the road and called on the minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola to do the needful as the road had claimed many lives and property worth millions of naira.
