Alleged diversion of road projects to SGF”s village criticised

Residents of communities liberated from Boko Haram have expressed concern over ‘undue prioritizing’ of projects in favour of the village of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.
The construction of the road to Kwombula village, Adamawa State, is generating criticism to the federal government reconstruction efforts, raising concern among many that the Muhammadu Buhari administration might be leaning towards nepotism and self-centeredness.
Some  residents also frowned upon the reconstruction of   Kala’a bridge which falls in the SGF’s home local area of Hong  while other  bridges in Madagali and Michika had not been attended to, leaving several communities cut off as rivers flow wild this rainy season.
A legal practitioner, Barrister Muhammad Ayuba from Madagali, wondered why the federal government would give preference to the SGF’s area which he said was least affected, at the expense of Madagali, Michika and other ‘badly affected’ communities, stressing that the level of destruction by the Boko Haram insurgents was much higher in Madagali and Michika than  in Hong.
“Both Governor Bindow and the SGF disappointed us.  It is a shame that the road to SGF’s village and Kala’a bridge were given undue priority,” he said, calling on government to direct local government officials  to return to the liberated communities, saying the officials spent local council funds in Yola and Abuja where they stay at the detriment of the people.
Another resident of Madagali, Hauwa Lami, said, “Reconstruction projects should be evenly distributed. If there is any need for prioritizing, Madagali should come first, then Michika, Mubi, Maiha before Hong and Gombi.”
She urged the federal government to float a special fund for widows and orphans who she said constitute the majority of returnees to the affected communities.