Yorro Residents Appeals to Gov. Kefas: Complete Abandoned Mararaba-Pantisawa Road Project

The people of Yorro Local Government Area in Taraba State have called upon Governor Agbu Kefas to intervene and complete the long-awaited Mararaba-Pantisawa road project, which was initiated by the previous administration but later abandoned.

The 20-kilometer road, which stretches from Gadda Lasheke Village to Pantisawa, the headquarters of Yorro Local Government Area, has been left in a state of disrepair, causing significant hardship for the local communities. Residents have expressed their frustrations and have made numerous attempts to reach out to the governor, hoping their concerns will be addressed.

The residents specifically pointed out several critical bridges along the road that have been left unfinished, including the Nsoreng Village Bridge, Dilla Village Bridge, Malale Bridge, Forest Village Bridge, and Mayanka Bridge in Pantisawa.

These bridges are vital for both local transportation and the movement of goods and services within the area. However, due to their incomplete state, the local communities are facing daily challenges, especially during the rainy season when these bridges become impassable.

In response to the growing concerns,  last year Hon. Joseph Kassong Kannoh, the Member representing Yorro Constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly, recently wrote an urgent "Save Our Soul" letter to Governor Agbu Kefas, pleading for immediate government intervention to save the people of Yorro LGA from further distress.

In his letter, Hon. Kassong highlighted the severe consequences the poor road conditions have had on the local population, particularly farmers and common folk. He emphasized the impact on students and teachers in the area, particularly in relation to a dangerous gully erosion that stretches from the house of former member Hon. Danladi Gwampo, through the Abubakar Barde Memorial Referral Hospital (ABMRH) in Pantisawa, down to the semi-bridge leading to the Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) Pantisawa.

According to the letter, this gully, which is approximately 3 kilometers long, exacerbates the challenges of daily travel for both students and teachers, making the road impassable during the rainy season.

"It is in the light of these challenges that I have written this 'Save Our Soul' message to the Government of Taraba State through His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas, urging that the construction of these roads be completed to alleviate the suffering of the people in our constituency," Hon. Kassong wrote.

The road project, which was flagged off by former Governor Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku on July 26, 2017, was initially expected to be completed by December 2019 with an allocated budget of 6.3 billion Naira. However, despite the promise, the road remained abandoned, with no visible progress on key sections of the road. When our reporter visited the area, the Nsoreng and Dilla bridges were still in the same state of disrepair, while the Malale Bridge had seen 80 percent of the work completed.

The failure to complete these critical infrastructures has left the people of Yorro LGA in a dire situation, with many residents calling on Governor Kefas to honor the promise made by the previous administration and deliver on the road project that is crucial for their livelihoods.

Many residents said the urgent need for government intervention to address the infrastructure gaps that continue to hinder the development of Yorro Constituency. Residents have expressed their hope that with the Governor's leadership, the long-awaited Mararaba-Pantisawa road project will be completed and will bring lasting relief to the people of the area.