How Governor Abdullahi Sule Ends the Agony of People of Agbashi Through Road Construction

Rabiu Omaku

There was pomp and pageantry as residents of Agbashi and its environs rolled out drums to celebrate Governor Abdullahi Sule during the flag-off of the construction of Idadu-Agbashi road in Ekye Development Area at Doma Local Government Council of Nasarawa State on the 31, December 2021.

To understand the reasons behind the heightened celebration of the residents, who upon sighting the trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles of the contracting firm, rolled out drums, it is pertinent to appreciate the fact that lack of good roads to transport their farm produce to nearby markets has been the major concerns of the residents for decades despite quantum of promises by successive administration especially the first executive Governor of the State, Dr.Abdullahi Adamu under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party.

Due to the bad nature of the 24km Idadu-Agbashi road, a sympathizer and a popular  Doma-based musician, Osori Oshata of blessed memory, in one of his songs on Agbashi road titled  “Ga Damina ya zo, Agbashi na kuka babu hanya…” literally translated to mean, once the rainy season sets in, residents of Agbashi community will be lamenting over the deplorable State of the road to their community.

Indeed, Osori sang this song some decades back and the situation has not changed until recently when Governor Sule flag-off the construction of the all-important Agbashi-Idadu road connecting several farming communities in Doma Local Government to include benefiting communities like Okpanya, Iponu, and amongst others.

Perhaps that was why it was a celebration galore and a shower of encomiums on Governor Sule during the groundbreaking for the construction of the 24km road.

Residents who could not hide their joy noted that the flag-off was more than anything, demonstrates the fact that the administration of Governor Sule may be slow but it is nonetheless steady in times of provision of basic infrastructures like the road network.

Indeed, the construction of the Idadu-Agbashi road is the lasting solution that will curb the rising spate of insecurity and trepidation the surrounding communities are passing through over the years.

A Chinese adage says development follows roads while some analysts describe roads as an essential artery for the rapid development of every society. For these and many more reasons, the people of Idadu-Agbashi, Iponu, Okpanya, Olegagbogyi, Agirma, and Odeni Magaji in Nasarawa Local Government will tap the opportunity of the new road once it is completed inspite of the slow pace of the project.

The significance of the long-awaited road which successive administrations in the state have promised the people of Agbashi and failed, until the coming of Engineer Abdullahi Sule, cannot be overemphasized, Indeed, work on the road, which has since commenced, is a further confirmation of the fact that Governor Sule’s focus on rural development is not a ruse.

Fundamentally, the groundbreaking of the road project is apt when one considers the fact that the predominant occupation of the vast population of the area is farming. The road is to serve the farmers and indeed, all residents of these farming communities who have over the years, been having difficulties transporting their farm produce to the markets.

Aside from making it possible for the residents to transport their goods to the market with relative ease and hence boost the economic activities of the area, the construction of the Agbashi-Idadu road will to a greater measure, open up a window of opportunity for peasant farmers as well investors who may be willing to invest in the area.

As Omadefu Osabonya, a youth leader in the area said, work on the road is an anxious measure taken to open up rural communities, enhance economic activities as well and boost internally generated revenue (IGR) of both Ekye Development Area and Doma local government.

‘Why can’t we jubilate when the Governor has come to wipe our tears by providing a solution to the problem that has caused us years of agony’, Osabonya asked rhetorically.

Essentially, reconstructing the road will greatly help in tackling insecurity experienced over the years in the area. The road project, when completed will reduce the hassles faced especially during the rainy season due to the terrain and nature of the soil.

The majority of the inhabitants of  Idadu, Okpanya, Iponu, Olegagbogyi and Odeni Magaji communities who ply this road on a daily basis will no doubt heave a sigh of relief and continue to rejoice with the Governor for prioritizing the construction of this road which has for long been neglected.

While flagging the road, Governor Sule said he was moved by the deplorable nature of the road and had continued to wonder how people in the area and all those plying the road are faring.

He insisted that he awarded the contract for the reconstruction of the road in fulfillment of his covenant with the people of Nasarawa State.

The Governor averred that his administration would not waver on its commitment to open rural communities by constructing roads that cut across the length and breadth of the State.

Perhaps nothing demonstrates the Governor’s commitment to rural development like the fact that four years in office; he awarded contracts for the construction of several rural roads. These include the 17km Sisin Baki-Mama-Farin Ruwa asphalt road; the 25km Mararaban Udege road; Gudi-Moroa road; the Agwade-Shupe-Atabula road; Shabu-Doka road; Arugba-Lakyo road; Kanje-Abuni road and Kagbu A-Atsoko-Kagbu Wana road in Awe, Obi, Lafia, Nasarawa Eggon Local Government areas among others.

For Agbashi and other adjoining communities, it is daybreak as the road, when completed, will further open up the communities and make it easy for them to enjoy several social services that deluded them owing to the lack of good roads.

We recall that the previous administration built a state-of-the-art general hospital in Agbashi and equipped it with sophisticated facilities. However, the hospital could not be effectively utilized as most health personnel evade posting to the area. In fact, some doctors who were deployed to staff the facility described Agbashi as hell for the simple reason that motorcycles are the only available means of transportation to Agbashi from Doma not minding the risk of overspeeding by okada riders and the insecurity of traveling alone in the bushy path.

Is a thing of history as the former abandoned General Hospital Agbashi is taking shape with the intervention of Governor Abdullahi Sule, Critical stakeholders of the area who witnessed the formal flag-off described it as a demonstration of Governor Sule’s commitment to rural development that is necessary for ensuring even growth and development in the State.

Among those who lauded the Governor are the chairman of Doma Local Government Area, Arc. Ahmed Usman Sarki; the member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly representing Doma South constituency, Hon John Osewu,

Others are Brigadier General Jafaru Ebu, Hon Musa Ibrahim, The former Commissioner Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, also the former Commissioner of Trade and Investments, Salihu Enah.

Speaking separately, all of them expressed excitement over the project, for which the contract was awarded on 31st December 2021 with a completion date of 12 months, insisting that the date will remain memorable in the minds of the residents of Agbashi., Today after the official flagging – off of the 24km road, The progress of the road remains stunted.

Barely three years after the award of the 24Kms road from Idadu to Agbashi, the dream of the people who are mostly farmers has been dashed away as the project has since stopped even before the sacking of cabinet members and the second inauguration of the Governor Abdullahi Sule.