Residents decry absence of infrastructure in Lokogoma

Residents of Lokogoma have decried the lack of infrastructure in the district, saying it has led to the death of some of its members.

During a public procession to honour a member of the community, Bassey Dominion, who was killed while controlling traffic along the ever-busy Lokogoma junction, they said they have resorted to self-help as the government has abdicated its responsibility of providing infrastructure.

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Ayotunde Odunlami, Coordinator of Traffic Project in the district, told Aso Chronicle  that the state of  Ring Road 2, which connects the district with Gudu and Apo has been a source of pain for commuters due to the heavy gridlock experienced daily, necessitating the purchase of traffic light by members of the community.

He said the late Dominion was one of the traffic volunteers when he was killed by a reckless driver.

Though he said his death would have been avoided if the government had stuck to the master plan that provided for an overhead bridge in the location.

“The resultant traffic situation is so difficult to motorists and commuters that they sometimes spend up to four hours at the junction before they can move ahead,” he said.

A resident, Habib Abdulkadir, said the problems of the community started two years ago when flood ravaged the community and killed three persons.

“The issue we have here today is a combination of many things that have been happening over the years, but successive governments have not done anything. What we have been telling them is that when you keep leaving problems without providing solutions, these problems pile up and at the end of the day compound the problems,” he added.

He said despite the fact that the district is in the heart of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), the only road that indicates the presence of government is just a 2-km road leading into the community and it came as a result of the protest of those that died during the flood.

“The Ring Road is a major road but not manned well by the government. We had to contribute money to fix the traffic light on the road. We plead with the government to stop telling us that the development of Abuja is in phases. Abandoning people here just because they buy into mass housing is not the right thing,” he stated.

Another resident, Kingsley Okoh, chided the government  saying “we have been a local government ourselves”

He, however, called on government to come to its aid as they do not have water, roads and flooding has become a recurring problem during rainy season.

“Lokogoma Development Association has gone to the extent of forming a vigilante group, working on the roads and providing infrastructure by themselves. After paying tax, they would then bring out their own money for the development of this area, which is very bitter to them but we need to encourage them.”

He added that the security situation is very alarming so they group into vigilantes and urge residents to blow alarm if there is any challenge.

“In the estate where I stay, hoodlums come there in numbers of 10 or 15 and at times we have sleepless nights. Lokogoma is a big place that can have a police division  but residents report to Apo and the place is very far despite having over 48 estates in the district.