Residents of border communities cry out… ‘We’re tempted to change nationality’

Investigations by our reporters indicate that due to their disadvantaged position, residents of border communities find themselves and their continuous neglect by the Nigerian state, a good number of them prefer to identify more with some neighboring countries where they tend to benefit some social services and some infrastructure as well. For the youths, they […]

Investigations by our reporters indicate that due to their disadvantaged position, residents of border communities find themselves and their continuous neglect by the Nigerian state, a good number of them prefer to identify more with some neighboring countries where they tend to benefit some social services and some infrastructure as well. For the youths, they have resorted to criminal activities; like smuggling and piracy amongst others.

The alleged smuggling theory has been acknowledged by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Acting Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit of Zone A, Mr. Victor Dimka, who said such border community residents are not only shielding smugglers from arrest, but are in fact joining them to attack officers and men of the Service in a chat with Weekly Trust in Lagos.

For residents of Agbado station, Oluwo, Ope-Ilu, Itoki and other neighbouring border communities in Ogun State, living in border towns couldn’t have been more nightmarish than it is for them. Approaching these communities from the Lagos end offers exclusive revelations.  The road from Iju-Ishaga axis, otherwise known as Agbado road, are in a state of disrepair. Motorists and commuters are confronted by flood-filled pot holes at major sections of the road. Commuters, who ply the road, spend hours on daily basis in traffic logjam.

The swampy section of the road at Idi Ope community is left unattended five years after the administration of ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State awarded it. “The excuse was that the laterite and bitumen that will fill the spot will be huge and deserved special attention,” Rafiu Wakil, a community leader at Fiwakesin/ Idi-Ope, said.

Today, the abandoned section of the Ope-Ilu road has cut through the single-lane road, creating a deepening gulf which has become travelers’ nightmare. Youths in the area catch in on the development to make brisk business. The driver of a fully loaded 14-passenger bus with registration number, Osun XB 695 KNR, which got stuck at the time of this visit, had to part with an appreciable sum before help could come his way.

For drivers of heavy duty trucks, the agony can be much unsettling. Adeyemi Salami, a trailer driver with Taibod Company, said he has been stuck on the spot for six days. The road leading out of Oluwo/Ope-Ilu communities toward Ijoko Otta is as worse as Idi-Ope road. Along the same route is the Itoki community. The poor drainage system within the area leads to over-flooding anytime it rains. And like the Idi-Ope experience, the single-lane road has been cut into two as a result of recurring erosion.

Opposite St. John African Church Nursery/Primary school, Itoki, is a small neighborhood that has been completely submerged by flood. It was learnt that residents who used to reside there have since relocated. Although, the poor state of the roads and perennial flooding appear to be the major headache of the border community dwellers, they nonetheless suffer due to absence of other social amenities.

According to Salisu Bashiru, a resident of the area, “You see, our problem in this area is that politicians who come to solicit our support during elections don’t often keep to their promises, thereafter. They only take advantage of our expanding population to get what they want after which, they abandon us,” he lamented.

While the living condition deteriorate in some borer communities in the South, similar or even a worst case scenario plays itself out in some border towns up North.

Kogin Baba, Kiri and Batal are border communities in Toungo local government area of Adamawa State. Besides the security problems plaguing the communities as people cannot dare count money in the open, roads are in shambles and pregnant women as well as the sick commute several kilometers to seek medical attention. “If it is within our powers, we want to belong to Cameroun or other places,” says Mr. Hammadu Bakari,  who alleges that the only time they feel the impact of Adamawa State government officials is during elections when, according to him,” they come and collect our votes.”

When our correspondent asked of the condition of electricity and water supply, it only elicited laughter, mirth of surprise from Bakari and two other residents of the Kogin Baba community. Mr. John Mathew, one of the residents, reacted.  “Who dash monkey banana? If we want to see electricity or electric poles, we often go to our neighboring community, Ganye or neighboring Cameroon to do so.”

Another resident, who simply identified herself as Madam Mary, adds that for those who cannot afford potable water, the only option is to go to the stream and fetch. Thick bushes and bush paths seem to encircle the community. Majority of the houses have thatch roofs. Like a typical village setting, when our reporter visited the community, many residents sat under trees, viewing the true real sight of nature. The scenario depicts a typical example of absence of development. Maryam spoke about the politics that the grading of the only main road in the community elicited. “After grading it, the contractors put their signboard on that road but later abandoned the work mid-way.”

Maryam, like other respondents, said that they would have been provided electricity, a health centre and motorable roads if they were under the jurisdiction of Cameroun.

A peep into one of the primary schools revealed how the debris of broken chairs was heaped in a corner and many of the pupils sit on the floor during classes. According to a school teacher in the area who doesn’t want his name mentioned, “Pupils are used to sitting on blocks or standing during classes. Classes end anytime there is a heavy down pour,” he said.

The commissioner for Rural Infrastructure and Community Development, Mr. Japhet Kefas, once told newsmen that it is normal for border communities to agitate for a better deal in terms of development, “such communities have the right for such agitation,’’ he noted, while assuring that the government is aware of their problems and plans are underway to attend to them.”

From the security perspective, arm bandits in the community are believed to be cross- border criminals from neighboring Cameroun who often collude with their “informants” who reside in the area to unleash terror on unsuspecting victims. However, when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Adamawa State Police Command, ASP Altine Daniel, said patrols along the Adamawa borders have been intensified, with a view to checkmate armed bandits.

Meanwhile, all hope is not lost for the border town dwellers as the Border Community Development Agency has pledged to tackle their problems with development funds approved by the federal government, Numoipre Wills, the Executive Secretary, Border Communities Development Agency, stated this on Monday in Lagos. He attributed the neglect of the border communities to what he described as development imbalance. “This is because they are structurally put in a disadvantaged position as all development activities usually start at the centre and cities and fizzle out as one moves to the border zones. This imbalance has brought serious security challenges to the nation by such lopsided arrangement.”

The official noted that the allegiance of dwellers of border communities to Nigeria hangs on a thin thread. According to him, such citizens often deny their nationality and claim nationalities of the countries sharing borders with Nigeria. He said that it was these anomalies that the agency intended to correct by providing the infrastructural needs.