50 Years Of Chains: Over  50,000 Residents Of Jarmai /Jom Federal  Wards Excluded From National Grid In Kanam LGA

Yakubu  Busari 

As  Nigeria celebrates decades of democratic progress, the people of Jarmai and Jom communities in Kanam Local Government Area, of  Plateau State, are crying out against a 50-year-old system of political exclusion, systematic neglect, and economic isolation.

Established in 1977 alongside Gagdi, Dugub, Kantana, Birbyang, Garga, and Munbitbo, Jarmai and Jom are two of the original eight federal wards in the LGA. However, while the other six wards enjoy the full fruits of democracy, Jarmai and Jom have been reduced to mere voting machines, exploited during elections and completely abandoned immediately after.

Political Apartheid and Marginalisation

Despite boasting an estimated population of 48,600 citizens and over 18,500 registered voters, Jarmai and Jom have been victims of deliberate political exclusion.

Since 1977, no son or daughter from these two wards has ever been allowed to hold a meaningful elective or appointive position.

Zero Executive Leadership: Never a Local Government Chairman or Vice-Chairman.

Despite having highly qualified sons and daughters, including university lecturers, technocrats, and professionals, the political elites of the other six wards have locked Jarmai and Jom out of governance. They use divisive rhetoric, falsely claiming that as Boghom people, they do not deserve representation within the Kantana constituency.

Total Infrastructure Blackout

Collapsed Bridges & Cut-Off Communities: 

The critical Jarmai Bridge, which links the area to Wase and Taraba State, collapsed in October 2024. Nearly two years later, it remains completely abandoned. During the rainy season, the people are entirely cut off from Dengi, the local government headquarters.

Unmotorable Roads The Jom axis connecting to Bauchi State is a death trap. Community leaders and elders can only be reached by hiring commercial motorcycles (Okada) to navigate the treacherous terrain.

Decaying Commerce The Jarmai Market, historically the second-largest economic hub in Kanam LGA after Dengi, sits in a state of absolute ruin.

Basic Amenities Denied For nearly 50,000 people, there is only one secondary school (GDSS Jarmai). There is no clean drinking water, no electricity, and no functional healthcare centre. The only motorable road existence was a byproduct of a project meant for a neighbouring town, later patched up through the personal connections of a private citizen, Alhaji Inuwa Baba.

Call to Justice

The people of Jarmai and Jom are not secondary citizens. They are taxpayers, voters, and rightful Nigerians. They refuse to remain political slaves or orphans in their own home state.

We urgently call on His Excellency, the Governor of Plateau State, the federal representative of the constituency, and well-meaning Nigerians to look into this grave injustice. We demand immediate infrastructural intervention, the reconstruction of the Jarmai Bridge, and an equitable distribution of political appointments. Democracy must belong to all, not just a selected six wards.We are human beings. 

*We are Nigerians. Hear our cry.