30 years without electricity: Kupa community cries out

Kupa community in Kogi State has been neglected by government at the local, state and federal levels. Members of the community expressed this concern during a community outreach and needs assessment conducted by Kupa Development Association, a civic organisation advocating for development in the community. The outreach revealed the community lacks power supply, good access […]

Kupa community in Kogi State has been neglected by government at the local, state and federal levels. Members of the community expressed this concern during a community outreach and needs assessment conducted by Kupa Development Association, a civic organisation advocating for development in the community.

The outreach revealed the community lacks power supply, good access roads, functional health care, and potable water, among others which is a result of the government neglect.

The presence of concrete electric poles, cables and even transformers might suggest the community has access to power supply. But a closer observation will show that the transformers are rusty, overgrown with weeds while some of the electric poles lie on the floor broken. The community has not been connected to the grid thirty years after the transformers were installed when the community was under Kwara state. We have not had light since our presence in Kogi state.

The community has a large expanse of arable lands being used for cassava cultivation which provides raw materials for Garri production, rice cultivation and abundance natural resources deposit. Number of trucks conveys agricultural produce to the main town. But these trips to and from the community are fraught with challenges as the roads are in a bad and deplorable shape. The constant efforts of the community and their neighbours have kept the roads in its current shape slightly motor able for users.

We appeal to the government at all level, philanthropies and stakeholders to urgently come to our aid please.

Abdulmalik M. Saidu FCAI, President, Kupa Development Association