Erosion threatens Mayo Dassa community of Taraba

Speaking on behalf of the community, Dr Adegboyega Olumuyiwa, lamented that the 1km stretch of road leading to the community from TSTC Terminus down to Mechanic Village has been neglected by both the state and Jalingo local government over the years.He said the long abandonment of the road has resulted in devastating gully erosion which […]

Speaking on behalf of the community, Dr Adegboyega Olumuyiwa, lamented that the 1km stretch of road leading to the community from TSTC Terminus down to Mechanic Village has been neglected by both the state and Jalingo local government over the years.
He said the long abandonment of the road has resulted in devastating gully erosion which has made it almost impossible for residents of the community to have access to their houses.
“I came to this place about eight years ago and up till now, the road has been a challenge to us. Many of us don’t even have access road to our houses again because of the gully erosion. We have not been able to get the attention of the government despite all our efforts,” he said.
According to him, some grading works were carried out on the road about five years ago and the community was of the belief then that the road would be tarred only for it to be abandoned along the line.
“Many of us have tried our best using sand bags, buying gravels and stones to make the road a bit motorable but to no avail. The major challenge we are facing is the lack of drainages because where there is no drainage, the road will not be good because water must always find its way,” he added.
Our correspondent observed that vehicles now run over underground pipes washed out by the devastating erosion in the area.
Dr Adegboyega wondered why the road was not captured among the various road projects currently being carried out in Jalingo metropolis saying, “The government has neglected Mayo-Dassa; they are doing all other roads in the town but for us, nothing is being done.”
 He observed that though some top people in the government live around the community, they never bother about ameliorating the plight of people of the area, adding that everybody is living to himself.  
Dr Adegboyega appealed to the government to come to the aid of the community before they enter the peak of the rainy season, especially as NIMET has predicted more rainfall this year.
Besides Mayo-Dassa community, there are communities within Jalingo metropolis that are equally being threatened by devastating erosion.
Meanwhile, the two members representing Jalingo in the Taraba State House of Assembly,  Aminu Umar Jalingo and  Muhammad Ibrahim Imam of Jalingo I and II respectively, have been called upon by residents to facilitate developmental projects for their respective constituencies.