Terrible Jalingo-Numan Road’ Claims Over 100 Lives In 2021

·         Group Lobbies Stakeholders In Abuja, Want Project Revisited

Jalingo-Numan Road has  being a death-hub and nightmare to people of across the country who plies the highway and   most especially, the people of Taraba State and Adamawa State. The road has claimed   the lives of innocent Nigerians due its terrible and abandoned state.

 

In the year 2021, locals said  about 82 persons lost their lives on Jalingo-Numan road through accidents and other related occurrences. For motorists plying the ever busy Jalingo-Numan road, it has been a sad tale.

 

The road which serves as a linkage to Adamawa and Taraba State has over the years been neglected, with motorists lamenting the agonizing pain they go through on a daily basis.

 

Over the years, innocent lives have been lost. It would be recalled that in 2021 alone, about 82 persons were alleged to have lost their lives on Jalingo-Numan road through accidents and other related occurrences.

 

This is however a worrisome situation, as the lives of the people is sacrosanct.

 

Following series of complains, Deaux Construction was awarded  the contract to  repairs of the road, which began after mobilization.

 

Sadly, the construction of the road was abandoned by the said Company, further, aggravating the pains and agony of motorists plying the road.

 

A group of young and intellectual individuals , under the aegis 'Advocacy for the Completion of Jalingo-Numan Road' has commence mobilization and lobbying powers that be in the country on the need to revisit and complete Jalingo-Numan road.

 

 

Prior to this,  the group had embarked on a tour along Jalingo-Numan road,  with commuters, residents along the road, passersby and security personnel's mounting  checkpoints along the road lamenting constant accidents caused by the terrible state of road.

 

 

Mallam  Abubakar  Usman, a driver said he had been plying Jalingo-Numan road for over a decade now, disclosed how he witnessed accidents that claimed so many lives on the road. He pleaded with the media to convey their plight to the Government with the view to promptly respond to the situation.

 

Corroborating Usman, Sarah John, a resident of Kpasham community along Jalingo-Numan road said , on several occasions, bandits and terrorists took advantage of the deplorable nature of the road and unleashed terror on the community, as a result, many lives were lost, properties destroyed and people rendered homeless.

 

A security personnel in one of the checkpoints, who pleaded anonymity revealed how response to distress calls by people affected, is always a challenge because of the deplorable nature of the road.

 

 

The President of the 'Advocacy for the Completion of Jalingo-Numan Road' Emmanuel Solomon Biti said that the road construction if completed will aid hassle free movement of people and goods on the road. 

 

The Group also which draw its membership from f Taraba and Adamawa States, noted that it had become imperative to call the attention of the lawmakers to the plight of Nigerians, particularly those plying the road on a daily basis, adding that urgent action needs to be taken for swift re-mobilization and completion of the road by contractors working on it. 

 

In a letter to the Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly, Prof. Joseph Albasu Kunini, after touring the road, the Group explained that aside from the man hours lost plying the road, the Jalingo-Numan road has become a death-hub for people wanting to reach their destinations through that route.

 

According to the group, the road has claimed so many lives and will continue to claim more if nothing is being done to salvage the situation. It will interest this honourable House to know that, our Independent findings revealed that no fewer than 103 lives were lost in Jalingo-Numan Road in the year 2021 and that alone should be a concern for all and sundry.

 

The letter read in part, "we are aware that the contract for the construction of the road (Jalingo-Numan) was awarded to Deaux Construction Company and they have been mobilized to start and complete the road for the benefit and safety of the Nigerian people. We have done a thorough follow-up and have come up with a lot of facts as to the deliberate neglect and outright abandonment of the awarded contract to the detriment of the entire populace. 

 

"As citizens who are so much worried about the condition of Jalingo-Numan Road and the losses it has incurred on the lives of our dear ones, we call on this honourable House to as a matter of urgency, deliberate on the way forward with the view to calling the appropriate authorities to do the needful as we on our part have taken up to pursue this course with all commitment, dedication and fearlessly confront, inquire and advocate for the Completion of the road in question.

 

"Relevant authorities have been notified, the Adamawa State House of Assembly has equally been notified on this matter of public importance. The House of Representatives and the Senate will equally be notified, as well as prominent sons and daughters of the affected States. We all are in this together. Our lives matter.

 

"It is equally important to note that the contract, which was awarded on July 24, 2017, to DEUX project Nig. Ltd at the cost of N11 Billion to be completed within 20 months has no performance from the contractor. The stagnated nature of the road has over the time dragged armed robbers, bandits and miscreants who unleashed terror on innocent citizens thus, crippling business activities which has affected the economy and retarded growth and development.

 

"Conclusively, we will want to inform the house that we have collaborated with international pressure groups, civil society organizations and other relevant Independent pressure institutions within the country to help push for the need to revisit, act and complete the construction of the road for optimal development and societal progress. Thank you."

 

Not resting on it oars, the Group embarked on an advocacy visits to Abuja, where it met with various stakeholders on measures to be taken that the abandoned road project is revisited with the view of completing it in no distance future.

The group met with  Senator Shuaibu Lau, representing Taraba North, who equally served as the Senate Minority Leader, to seek his assistance in making sure that the road is completed with the Contractor going back to site for work to resume back.

 

He however listened and showed  deep concern and explained to them the efforts they have collectively put towards ensuring that the road is completed. 

 

Lau lauded the Group's efforts and promised to continue to dialogue and advocate through legislative functions, for the Completion of Jalingo-Numan road.

 

According to the Group, it also approached Senator Emmanuel Bwacha representing Taraba South.

"He gave us a warmth reception, equally explained the efforts and contributions from his own ends, and further assured us of the more efforts he and other legislators will be putting towards achieving the desired objective".

 

It added that it also visited Senator Binos Yaroe,  representing Adamawa South in the National Assembly, who received them warmly in his office and keenly heard their mission, while extensively intimated them with the efforts he made in regard to Jalingo-Numan road. 

 

"Remember it was Senator Binos Yaroe who singlehandedly facilitated the airing of the documentary about Jalingo-Numan road. He had at so many times pleaded on the floor of the House to consider the plight of the people who are mostly affected long the road. He at a time shaded tears when bandits took advantage of the deplorable nature of the road and unleashed mayhem on residents along the road. Senator Binos has assured us of his readiness to continue to push for the Completion of Jalingo-Numan road", the Group stated in their reports on their tours.

 

The Group heaped praises on Hon. Danladi Baido Tijos, who was said to have stood head over toes in pushing for the Completion of Jalingo-Numan road on the floor of the House of Representatives. 

 

He sponsored a motion on it, followed up and solicited for the need to put heads together towards ensuring that the road is fixed.

 

The Group furthermore stated that Honourable Danladi Baido Tijos had in his capacity tried to book an appointment with the Minister of State, Works and Housing, unfortunately, the Minister was away on an official assignment. 

 

Narrating its effort on the completion of the road, the Group added that it accessed Alh. Mu'azu Jaji Sambo, the Minister of State, Works and Housing, but he wasn't around.

 

The Group however interfaced with his Personal Assistant who categorically informed them that the Minister was on an official assignment. 

 

He directed them to make documentation at the Registry of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, assuring them that the Minister will get across to them immediately he gets back from his official function.

 

The group also visited prominent religious leaders Arch Bishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama and Dr. Sheikh Bala Lau

Arch Bishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama who responded positively from the position of grief on the deplorable nature of the road and how it was given a little attention despite it's economic and societal importance, went further by placing a call through to several Legislators and other personalities from the seat of power to ensure the road project is revived.

During its visit to Sheikh Bala Lau, the group was received by the Director General, Jama'atu Izalatil Bid'ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah, further related personal  efforts being made by Sheikh Bala Lau and equally assured us of their readiness to plead for allocations to be made towards rescuing the deplorable road from further collapse.

The group called on government  as a matter of urgency, consider the plight of the good people of Taraba State, Adamawa State and Nigeria at large by giving the desired attention Jalingo-Numan road deserves.

"That, for the security of lives, properties and economic development of Nigeria, Government should increase allocations to the construction of Jalingo-Numan road in the budgetary provisions of the nation.

"Also, our Legislators from both Adamawa and Taraba States who are the most affected, be given presidential audience to air out the cries and pleas of the people they represent.

 

"It is our earnest desire and believe that, the lives that have been wasted on the road, is enough sacrifice for the Government to come to the aid of the people by being prudent and proactive in ensuring the road is fixed to alleviate the pains of the masses," the group said.