Osakpa of Akpanaja, District Heads, Road Users Shower Encomium On Olam Rice Farm Over Grading of Rukubi-Akpanaja-Nasarawa Border Road

Rabiu Omaku is the Nasarawa State Correspondent of Universal Reporters in this special write-up on reactions of people on the ongoing grading of Rukubi-Abuja Ogoh, Ondori, Small Lagos, Sukene, Akure Bassa (Kure Makaranta), Efugoberingbo, Akpanaja communities of Doma South constituency of Nasarawa State, and an end to the precarious State of the only route linking Nasarawa and Benue State.

The paramount ruler of Akpanaja, the Osakpa of Akpanaja, Alhaji Musa Abari Agye, has joined district heads, Youth Leaders, and road users from Doma South constituency to shower encomium on Olam Rice Farm situated at Rukubi Community of Doma Local Government Council of Nasarawa State.

The monarch gave the hint during an interview at his palace at Doma shortly after returning from the border town of Benue State, saying the road has been neglected for years without Local and State Government attention.

He said the grading of the road will boost socio-economic activities as well as enhance the security of lives and properties of the people. The monarch affirmed that the clearance of one of the thick forests along the route leading to the enclave of bandits and kidnappers is a thing of the past.

He also lauded the largest rice farm in Africa for initiating the grading of the road, which was opened up by the Plateau State Agricultural Development Programme as early as 1977.

“I sincerely appreciate the effort of Olam Rice Farm as well as the intervention of His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, for urging Olam to grade our road, which was in shambles”.

The Community Relations Manager of Olam Rice Farm, Abubakar Ogashuwa, while shedding more light on the grading of the 35km Rukubi-Akpanaja-Makurdi road, affirmed that the decision of the company was in tandem with the corporate social responsibility of the company, meant to alleviate the suffering of the host community and road users.

According to him, “This small portion of the road, especially the river Ohina, before now was a very bad spot which, to an extent, road users had to pay and join a canoe to take them across. It was a terrible experience for travelers, especially with a motorcycle.

“It took a bold and serious intervention of Olam Rice Farm to fill the bad portion with hardcore and laterite to address the situation”.

He explained that the essence of the grading of the 35km road was to ease the plight of the common man travelling from Rukubi to Akpanaja and Benue State, the CRM confided that the grading of the road will go a long way to reduce insecurity within the route due to a thick forest, which he added was clear off by the team of their engineers.

Abubakar Ogashuwa, however, averred that the support accorded to the people of the host community and its environment includes the building of a three-classroom block at Government Junior Secondary School, Ondori, and also the building of a primary school at a community dominated by Tiv and Fulani nomads.

He recalled that Olam Rice Farm, some time ago, supported scores of students within the host community with scholarships, provision of potable drinking water at Ondori, solar lights, and supporting widows with rice.

Urging the benefiting communities to take ownership of all the infrastructures provided to them by the company.

Also speaking, Prince Stephen from Ondori applauded Olam rice farm for the grading of Rukubi-Akpanaja road to Makurdi, he, however, eulogized the company for the building of a three-classroom block at Ondori, provision of potable drinking water to the populace.

He reeled out some of the remarkable feats, including the payment of scholarships to qualified indigenous students. Prince salutes the company for the bold step to address some ills affecting the people of Doma South.

Other road users, especially motorcycle riders, appreciate the company for the grading of the long-neglected road, saying the road, if completed, will ease the transportation of farm produce from Doma to Benue State, as well would boost the socio-economic activities of the area.

Panya Abdullahi, a pastoral nomad, thanked Olam Rice Farm for the grading of the road, calling on Governments at all levels to accord the company utmost support to ensure the speedy completion of the project.

The district head of Rukubi, Hassan Angulu Osaka, expressed pleasure over the grading of the 35km Rukubi-Akpanaja-Benue road by Olam Rice Farm, adding that the grading of the road would address the rising waves of insecurity within the bad portion of the road.

A resident of the Sukene community of Doma Local Government Council of Nasarawa- State in an interview, described the grading of the road as a good development, as he prays for those involved in the latest development, stating that the road ushered in development to every society.

The District Head of Akpanaja lauded Olam rice farm for the grading of the Rukubi-Akpanaja-Makurdi road, adding that the grading of the 35km road will open up business activities. In fact, this is the moment we are waiting for.

A resident of Akure Bassa, popularly known as Kure Makaranta community of Rukubi electoral ward, Mr.Augustine has commended the management of Olam rice farm for the grading of the 35km Rukubi-Akpanaja-Makurdi road, which he said paralyzed socio-economic activities of the area, as well as increased the rising waves of crime and criminality.

In an interview with some journalists recently, he said the grading of the long-neglected road has made life unbearable to farmers who cannot transport their goods to the market due to the bad road

Recalling their trepidation over the years, especially at Ohina bridge, Augustine said the Singaporean company has impacted the lives of communities within the axis, calling on Doma Local Government, the State Government, as well as the Federal Government to bring succor to people in dire need of a road network.

“Before the grading of the road, we spent not less than one hour and thirty minutes to Rukubi with the worst portion of the road, which is Ohina Bridge. Now that the bad portion has been seriously working on, people must board a canoe to cross over. We thanked God for the gesture.