Canoe operators mobilise as travellers increase on Potiskum-Jakusko road
Kanem Trust reports that the road, which links to about seven local government areas
FILE PHOTO
More canoes and swimmers were mobilised to the Dawasa flood scene as travellers using canoes increased on Potiskum-Jakusko road.
Kanem Trust reports that the road, which links to about seven local government areas to the state capital was cut off by flood following heavy rainfall forcing travellers to use canoes.
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Nasiru Mohammed Dawasa, Chairman of the Canoe Owners, told our reporter on the telephone that he has invited additional canoe operators to the scene as travellers keep coming.
Dawasa said he has also employed the service of local swimmers to be escorting the canoes in case of any emergency.
He said the government is yet to create the temporary route it has promised.
“So as the demand for travel increased, we need to also devise a means to ensure the safety of our clients, some of the travellers are entering canoe for the first time, they really need our support”.
Yahaya Mato, one of the motorists who defied canoe and travel via Bulkachuwa a community in neighbouring Bauchi State said he covered a distance of 361km instead of the normal 254 kilometres.
He said: “The only permanent solution to the flood point is to elevate the level of the road and construct box culverts with an interval of 50 metres from the first point to the last point of coverage, so that the water will have a breathing exit”
When contacted, an official from the federal ministry of works who don’t want to be mentioned said the letter of contract has already been released and rehabilitation would commence possibly by next week.