FCT: 16 Kwali villages cut off as flood washes away bridge

There was an agony as residents of 16 rural communities in Kwali area council have been cut off after a flood washed away part of the only bridge that links Tungan-Sarki – Dafa -Yangoji in the area.

Daily Trust gathered that residents of Gurumi, Dafa, Azarya, Tungan-Maje – Guli, Tunga -Galadima, Tungan- Tofa, Bwaji, Kasu, Golo, Damakusa, Gwomani, Tunga – Sarki, Dogon -Ruwa, and Gbarji communities are worst hit as they have been completely cut off from reaching neigbouring Dafa community.

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Some residents who spoke when our reporter visited the scene of the collapsed bridge on Saturday said residents of the affected communities have been in agony since part of the bridge has been washed away by flood.

They said the majority of residents who are mostly farmers find it difficult to cross the river to reach their farms and harvest their crops.

A farmer, Makama Sarki, said he has a farm across the river near Tungan-Sarki, but said he as not been able to have access to cross the river to go to farm, saying some of his crops that are due for harvest have been wasting.

“For two weeks now, I can’t go to my farm because of the collapsed bridge which has affected over 16 villages around Kwali area council,” he said.

According to him, most of the villagers, especially farmers, convey their farm produce on motorcycles to the river bank and engage some labourers to help them cross the river.

“Even when you carry any farm produce, on getting to the river bank, one has to engage some youths who will now carry the farm produce on their head to cross the river and give them N200,” he said.

Another resident, Zakaria Musa, who is also a farmer from Damakusa village, said the collapsed bridge was the only one that serves over 20 rural communities in both Kwali and neigbouring Abaji area council, saying since part of the bridge has been washed away, it has been difficult for him to cross the river.

“Anytime I come with my motorcycle to the river bank, I have to engage some youths who will help me carry the motorcycle to cross the river and give them N200,” he said.

He also said since part of the bridge was washed away, both social and economic activities have been affected.

And that some traders who sell fairly used and provisions that normally come from Kwali and Yangoji have no access road to pass again.

According to him, the bridge was constructed in 2014 under the administration of the former chaiman of Kwali Area Council, Ibrahim Daniel, saying until the recent flood descended and washed part of the bridge away.

“I am sure most of the villagers can  now appreciate what the former chaiman of Kwali, Ibrahim Daniel, has done to construct this bridge.

“Here we are today; we remain stranded as the bridge has been washed away while people can no longer have access to travel out ,” he said.

He therefore appealed to the authorities of the council to, as a matter of urgency, liase with the FCT administration to come to the aid of people of the affected communities in fixing the bridge especially as farm harvest approaches.

Aso Chronicle correspondent who spoke with some youths carrying motorcycles to cross the river at the river bank said they charge N200 per motorcycle to cross the river.

“Actually, we charge N200 per each motorcycle to cross the river, while any person that wants to cross with load, we charge between N300 and N500, especially when the water level has risen up as that is what we have been doing for some weeks now” a man, who identified himself as Danjuma said.

It was also observed that the river bank has become like a business centre as some girls who hawk pure water sachets, snacks and ground -nut make brisk business, while some youths at the river bank also help to assist some residents to carry their luggage on their head to cross the river and given a token.

The chief of Gwomani, Alhaji Adamu Saba, while speaking with our reporter, said the washing away part of the bridge has affected over 16 villages, saying most of the residents who are peasant farmers are worst hit.

He said some residents especially who have their farms across the river sometimes travel through Kwali which he said takes a long distance to get to their farms, even though he said he had written to the FCT Minister of State, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, to come to the aid of his people in fixing the bridge.

“Although, the minister had, during the Flagg-off of distribution of relief materials for flood victims in Kwali, announced the donation of two speed boats which even as I am talking to you right now, I have not seen it,” he said.

Aso Chronicle also reports that a sign board was seen planted by the FCT Emergency Management Agency warning residents of the communities to stay away from the river, which they said was identified as a flood prone area.

The chairman of Kwali Area Council, Danladi Chiya, while speaking with our reporter via telephone, said the council has written to the FCT administration to come to the aid of people of affected rural communities over the collapsed bridge.