Sani Dutsinma
Residents of Gadar Obi community in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State have appealed to the state government and other stakeholders to urgently rehabilitate their only bridge linking the community with the state capital.
The residents said the bridge, which has served the community for decades, is now in a critical condition and could collapse completely if urgent intervention is not provided.
Chairman of the community, Alhaji Farukku Abubakar Sala-Sala, made the appeal in an interview with Radio Nigeria in Birnin Kebbi.
He explained that Gadar Obi is an agrarian community located on the outskirts of Birnin Kebbi, adding that the deteriorating condition of the bridge has left residents increasingly isolated from the state capital and neighbouring communities.
According to him, the two bridges were constructed several decades ago by a contractor popularly known as Obi, who was using the area to source sand, soil and gravel for construction work at an Army Barracks in Kebbi State.
He said the bridges have since become the major access routes linking the community with Birnin Kebbi and other parts of the state, with residents relying on their own resources to carry out periodic repairs.
Farukku Sala-Sala said the water channels and supporting structures around the bridges have completely deteriorated, contributing to the erosion and weakening of the bridge.
He noted that the community had repeatedly raised the issue with previous administrations without receiving the needed intervention, adding that the situation had become more critical due to increasing soil erosion and desertification in the area.
The community chairman said residents had now appealed to Governor Nasir Idris for urgent assistance, noting that the APC Kebbi Central Zonal Chairman, Alhaji Umar Buro, had visited the area, inspected the condition of the bridge and assured them of urgent intervention.
Also speaking, a resident, Malam Tukur Usman, described the condition of the bridge and access road as deplorable and appealed to the government, wealthy individuals and development organisations to support the community.
He said residents had made efforts every year to maintain the infrastructure but could no longer cope with the scale of deterioration.
Malam Tukur warned that a total collapse of the bridge would cut the community off from Birnin Kebbi, schools, farms and markets, with serious consequences for the economic and social activities of the people.
Another resident, Malam Umar Gadar Obi, also appealed for assistance to reconstruct the bridge, while calling for the construction of additional roads to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding community.
He said Gadar Obi was gradually developing into a new settlement as more people were acquiring land and constructing houses in the area, making improved road infrastructure increasingly necessary.