Flood: Dogon-Ruwa chief appeals to FCT for bridge

The Chief of Dogon-Ruwa, a riverine community in Abaji Area Council, where four children drowned last week, has appealed to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, to construct a bridge across River Gurara in the area. Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar, while speaking with our reporter, said the construction of a bridge  across the river would save […]

The Chief of Dogon-Ruwa, a riverine community in Abaji Area Council, where four children drowned last week, has appealed to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, to construct a bridge across River Gurara in the area.

Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar, while speaking with our reporter, said the construction of a bridge  across the river would save the lives of many who have suffered from flooding for years.

He said lack of a bridge across the river has continued to inflict pains on his subjects, especially farmers, who find it difficult to transport their farm produce to the market.

He noted that majority of his subjects were peasant farmers and find it difficult transporting their goods to neigbouring villages and markets in Gawu and Lambata communities due to poor road.

The traditional ruler blamed last week’s flood which claimed the lives of four children to lack of bridge across the river in the area.

He said though he had no right to question God over the incident, it was sad that the children would end their lives in a flood disaster.

“Just look at what happened last Thursday night when four children lost their lives while they were returning from market with their parents. In fact, the entire community was thrown into mourning but that is how God has destined that it will happen,” he said.

Alhaji Abubakar said the construction of a bridge will boost socio-economic activities in the area.

He lamented over lack of basic amenities at the community such as potable water and that  shortage of school  teachers at both the secondary and primary schools in the area was also disturbing to them.

“There are 14 teachers and some  of them are not regular in reporting for work at the school, while we have some of our indigenes that are NCE holders but have no work,” he said.

The chief further  appealed to the FCT health secretariat to equip the newly completed health centre in the village, as it had remained dormant due to lack of facilities in them.

He called on the authorities of the council under the leadership of Alhaji Abdurahman Ajiya, to liaise with the FCT administration toward addressing the challenges facing the community.