Residents seek minister’s intervention on Abaji gully erosion

Residents of Anguwar Sarkin-Pawa in Abaji Area Council are appealing to the minister of the FCT, Muhammad Musa Bello, to come to their aid by tackling a gully gobbling up their homes in the area.

Some affected residents, who spoke with Daily Trust, expressed their concern over the menace which they said has been causing them nightmares for over the years.

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They said the gully erosion, which has already affected over 23 houses, has forced many people to relocate.

A resident whose house is on the verge of collapse as a result of the gully erosion, Ibrahim Shaba, said it has already destroyed part of his house, thereby forcing him and his family to park out and squat with a neighbour.

“As you can see, almost half of the building has collapsed already, and I don’t have money to acquire another land, hence, I decided to move with my family,” he said.

He added, “In fact, the gully erosion has been eating deeper every year for five years now and nothing has been done.

“It is worsening and more people were forced to relocate,” he added.

Another resident, whose house was also on the verge of collapse, Bashir Musa, said both his house and that of his late father were terribly hit by the gully erosion, adding that he relocated two of his wives to Abattoir area some months ago.

He said despite efforts by elders of the area to get the authorities of the council to come to the aid of the affected residents, nothing has been done.

“In fact, you visited this place sometime in 2018, and I am sure you cannot compare it with what you saw then and now.

“As you can see, almost half my house and that of our family has already collapsed due to the gully erosion.

“And up till now, the area council authorities have not done anything about it,” he said.

Also, the speaker of the council, Musa Ghalli, whose house is among those affected, said he was disturbed as the gully erosion was gobbling up his house and those of his neighbours, adding that he had drawn the attention of the council authorities to the menace.

“Actually, I am also a victim; as you can see a house I am building and has reached lintel level is on the verge of collapse as a result of the gully erosion.

“I have reached out to the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa, who has also been trying to see that the Ecological Fund Office comes to our aid,” he said.

Reacting, the chairman of the council, Alhaji Abdulrahman Ajiya, said the council was making efforts to get the FCT Administration and the Ecological Fund Office to assist residents whose homes are affected by the gully erosion.

He disclosed that the council was also expecting the FCT minister of state, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, who will commission a water project by the end of October, to inspect the gully erosion menace for urgent action.