Karu (Nasarawa State) – Residents of Karu local government area in Nasarawa State, have called on the state government to come to their aid by fixing the deplorable roads in the area.
The residents made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Karu on Wednesday.
Alhaji Abdulsalami Zubairu, who resides at ADKAN Vintage Estate, City College Road, Karu, described the state of most of the roads in Mararaba as “eye sore.”
He said: “It is disheartening to note that many roads in Karu and its environs are in a sorry state; this development is slowing down the pace of social and economic development of this area.
“It is the owner of the estate I am living that tarred the road that leads to the estate and provided the transformer; that is why we have electricity in the estate today.
“Nasarawa state government is realising a lot of revenue from this area; sadly, however, the road is fast deteriorating due to lack of maintenance.’’
Zubairu said that a journey from the estate to Abuja, which ordinarily should take a commuter or private vehicle owner 30 minutes now takes about 2 hours.
He warned that the area would soon be cut off from the rest of the society unless the government fixed the roads.
Messrs Augustine Adamu, Mohammed Alli, Simon Adewoye, Usman Halidu and Hajia Rakiya Ahmed, all residents of City College road, also expressed worry at the poor condition of roads in the area.
Adamu, a commercial driver plying Karu road, told NAN that the ‘’terrible state of the road’’ had led to frequent break down of his vehicle.
“I spend close to 30 per cent of my income monthly on the repair of my vehicle due to wear and tear as result of the bad condition of roads in Karu.
“This development does not augur well as it drains my purse and profit.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“I urge the Almakura-led government to repair our roads to save us from all this embarrassment,’’ he said.
Reacting to the complaints, Malam Ahmed Tukur, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Gov. Umaru Al-Makura, said that the government was working out modalities to rehabilitate dilapidated roads in Karu Local Government Area.
He said: “Nasarawa state government takes the issue of roads in Karu Local Area very serious.
“It is liaising with the local government authorities to ensure that most of the roads that need attention are fixed.
“The governor was around that area and inspected the 7-kilometers Kabayi road which is another link road from Mararaba to check point.
“That is the road that burst out at the border between Nasarawa and FCT.
“The essence of constructing that road is simply to provide motorists alternative road, to avoid the usual go slow at the Keffi/Abuja road in getting to Abuja and other destinations.
“The road is about 80 per cent completed.”
The governor’s aide appealed to the residents to exercise patience with the government in its determination to fix roads in Karu and other areas within its jurisdiction. (NAN)
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