Jalingo residents raise alarm over poor roads, drains

Residents of Jalingo Metropolis, capital of Taraba State, have decried lack of access roads and drains.

A cross-section of the residents said that most parts of Jalingo have no tarred roads and drains which make movement of vehicles difficult, especially during the rainy season.

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A resident, Mallam Baba Tanimu, said Jalingo town was the most backward city in the country in terms of basic infrastructure like roads, drains and street lights.

Another resident, Mr Bulus Yakubu, also expressed dismay over the absence of roads, drains and street lights.

Mr Yakubu told North East Trust that only few solar lights mounted on some of the streets by previous governments were functioning.

He said the roads from Roadblock into Jalingo City; from ATC Junction into the main market; and the one leading to the government house had no functional street lights.

Mr Yakubu further revealed that the road from Welcome to Jalingo from the Yola axis, as well as the road from Mile 6 through Donga Bridge to the House of Assembly have no street lights.

Mrs Lami John, also a resident of Jalingo, told North East Trust that it was only Jalingo Metropolis among all the state capitals she had visited that had no functional street lights, coupled with untarred roads.

She said, “Go to Yola, Gombe, Bauchi, Kano and Jos, as well as many other state capitals, and see the difference.’’

She, however, said the flyover and dualisation of Jauro Yunu to Panti Napu embarked upon by Governor Darius lshaku was commendable, but that more roads and street lights should be provided inside Jalingo Town.

Another resident, Mr Audu James, said lack of tarred roads and drains in most parts of Jalingo had been causing erosion.

He said also said the absence of street lights was giving criminals a chance to carry out their activities in many parts of the city.

Mr James, therefore, pleaded with the state government to embark on construction of more township roads and also repair all the non-functioning street lights in order to make Jalingo a befitting state capital.

North East Trust’s findings revealed that areas that have no tarred roads include Nana Asha, Mafindi, Saminaka, Tanakaban, Jauro Boto, Nasarawo, parts of Jeka da Fari and the primary board areas.

Other areas include Ambaliya, Baba Yau, Anguwan Nyandang, Anguwan Mallam Gabdo, NTA Quarters and Kogin Mallam Garba.

All efforts to get the state government’s reaction on the state of the roads yielded no result up to the time of filing the report yesterday.

The commissioner of works, Mr. Irimiya  Hamanjulde, could not be reached as his mobile phone was switched off when our reporter called and he did not respond to the text message sent to his line.

He was also said not to be on seat when the reporter visited his office.