Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nassarawa State on Friday assured
residents of towns in the state adjoining the Federal Capital Territory
that his government will make roads in the state are motorable to reduce
motorists’ troubles and tackle flooding.
Al-Makura gave the assurance in an interview with State House
correspondents shortly after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari inside
the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
While describing the floods in Mararaba and Kabayi among others as a
national issue, the governor also faulted residents, whom he said,
always embark on improper conducts.
Such residents, he said, were fond of converting drainage channels and water ways to dumping grounds for waste.
He said the problems always become more profound once the rains started.
He said, “I want to limit myself to the issue of Mararaba,
particularly where flood this year appears to have gone a little more
than what happened in the previous year, with particular reference to a
certain area, Kabayi.
“People
in Kabayi are really complaining about flood and water has caused so
much disruption in their activities. That is understandable because
there was a request that the road was impassable, it was unmotorable as a
result of the neglect of the past.
“I took it upon myself to award contract to ensure that people living
along that axis benefit from good roads. I therefore awarded contract
worth over N800m to have a road that will connect them with the main
arteries so that it will reduce the problem of traffic.
“But unfortunately, while the work was ongoing, the rains arrived and
there is nothing we could do. We cannot stop the rains from coming
because we have projects.
“So, the people have to be a little bit patient until the rains
subside. I can assure them that they will have a brand new road that
they will be proud of and use. That is despite the recent flood in
Kabayi, they should be patient with us.
“We are working to ensure their well being, and the moment the rains
subside, work will commence; indeed, work has already commenced but it
might not be as fast as it should be because you know how much
challenges engineers face when confronted with rain matters.”
The governor denied knowledge of fresh killings in the state, saying
peace had been restored to the state through community-based mechanism.
He said it was surprising to him that anybody could raise a false alarm and accuse him of being behind killings.
PUNCH