By Segun Adewale, Bauchi
Communities along the 19km Hardawa – Gwaram – Akuyam rural road in Misau LGA of Bauchi State have commended the Government for embarking on the construction of the road, which has now opened up the area.
Some of the beneficiaries of the project who spoke to a team of Journalists Weekend while on a statewide project tour and in the area to see the level of work and the impact of the project.
Interacting with Journalists, Musa Adamu, a resident of Gwaram, expressed joy over the project, saying that for many years, they had yearned for the road but did not get it until now.
The over-60-year-old man told the Journalists that the project, though not yet completed, has made life easy for them as they can easily travel to Hardawa and other towns with ease.
According to him, “We have been following successive administrations for this, but it did not come until now. Lack of access road had set us back, but now, we are happy to be part of communities opened up.”
Musa Adam said that as benefiting communities who are mostly farmers, the road has eased the movement of farm produce and other goods to markets, unlike before when movement was not possible, especially when it is September.
According to him, “Before now, when it was September, no vehicle could move from Gwaram town to Hardawa, at that period businesses were grounded, even to take patients to the hospital was not possible, but we thank God that it has become history now.”
Another resident of the area, while speaking to the news men, Kabiru Sani said that the road cut across communities of Hardawa town, Jarkasa, Lafiya, Umala, Tulu-Tulu, Wurukudu, Gwaram and Akuyam towns.
According to him, since the commencement of the project to its present stage of completion, the project has put a smile on the faces of the residents.
“We are happy with it, we appreciate His Excellency, Governor Bala Mohammed, for constructing this road, it is now that we know democracy is working”, he said.
Speaking on the development, Executive Chairperson of Misau LGC, Salisu Hussaini Hardawa, commended the State Government for embarking on the project, which he says has a significant impact on the rural dwellers.
He stated, “In Gwaram village, people own trailers, more than 200, but were forced to leave them in Potiskum due to a lack of road, but now, they have started bringing them home.”
The Council Boss added, “We have a lot of big-time farmers here who could not transport their produce to the markets, but, with this road, they can now go to the various markets, thereby boosting the economy of the area.”
He stressed that the ongoing road construction work has started yielding positive results, as business activities have been boosted, saying, “This road is very important to us in these communities, because we have been yearning for the construction of this road for a long time.”
“We have never expected it to be done until the coming of His Excellency, our Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, who during his electioneering campaigns promised to do the road, and he has fulfilled his promise”, he added.
Salisu Hussaini Hardawa further said that the construction work has gone far, emphasising its timely completion and commended the Governor for constructing the road and many other developmental projects and programmes in Misau local government area.
The local government chairman, who recalled that the road construction project was flagged off last year, said many other projects have been executed by the present administration of Bala Mohammed across 20 LGs of the state.
