Near Abuja, far from civilisation

The roads leading to the two communities remind one of the days when one had to penetrate thick and dangerous forests in frightening quietude typical of a sanctuary of dangerous animals to access any community.
Dnango and Jigba communities in Kuje area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) seem located in planets far flung from the earth and, therefore, lacking in most of the vital development attained in other communities, benefitting, even if in a little way, from government presence.
The two communities lack all the social amenities that should qualify as integral parts of the FCT, which include water, electricity, roads and so on. They seem to have remained entrapped in their ancient civilisation, making them forgotten communities.
The residents of Jigba and Dnango communities live in total darkness because they are not connected to the national grid and also trek several kilometres in search of drinking water because their rocky terrain makes it difficult to dig a local well.
The chief of Dnango village, Ibrahim Gwamna, told this reporter almost tearfully, that the situation they live in is pathetic and unfortunate.
Intimating on the deprivations they suffer as a community, the chief said: “We don’t have potable water, no electricity, no good roads, no hospital; in fact, we are left behind in everything. Our people contract most of the waterborne diseases due to lack of clean drinking water.”
Gwamna said that the Dnango community had been reporting its problems to the relevant authorities, but that all their efforts at attracting the required positive response from the relevant quarters have failed.
According to him, politicians, who were last seen when they visited for electioneering campaigns, have been promising to provide them with the required social amenities, but are yet to fulfill it, so, the living condition of the residents of the community has remained deplorable for decades.
He called on government to come to their aid and rescue his people from suffering.
The chief of Jigba, Jatau Sarki, on his part, also decried the suffering being experienced by the residents and listed the problems and deprivations, including the fact that they always trek several kilometres to fetch water from the nearest sources.
Sarki explained that due to lack of safe drinking water, a large number of his subjects have contacted waterborne diseases that have led to many deaths.
Most of Dnango and Jigba residents who spoke to Daily Trust lamented that their present condition is due to lack of social amenities in their areas. One of them, Mr. Timothy Wakili, said they have spent many years in that condition without getting help from the government.
“We are suffering, we are facing many challenges. We spent years in this condition. We don’t have roads, water, or hospitals. Our problems are many but we thank God almighty for keeping us alive. We are grateful and we glorify Him,” he said, adding that they are waiting for the government to assist them.
The executive chairman, Kuje area council, Shaban Isiaku Tete, however said his administration is committed to tackling the problems facing all the communities in his area and revealed that he has procured drilling machines to construct boreholes in each and every community.
According to him, all the challenges facing various communities under Kuje area council would be over very soon and called on the people to support his government to address their problems.