By Zainab Abdulhamid Toro
Residents of Palama, a community in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, have appealed to the state government to address the severe deterioration of their roads connecting the community with the local government headquarters.
The community has been without a better road network to other neghbouring communities which has left them nearly inaccessible, especially during the rainy season.
The residents say the poor state of the roads has hindered daily activities and limited access to essential services, creating a pressing need for immediate reconstruction.
Malam Dauda Musa, a spokesperson for Palama, shared the community’s struggle with the deplorable roads. “The rainy season has made our roads almost unusable,” Musa explained. “We’re pleading with the government to step in and help us. The poor condition of these roads is affecting our lives in countless ways, and we need immediate intervention to ease our suffering.”
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Adding to the plea, Aisha Sani, a local vendor, emphasized the toll the road conditions have taken on small businesses in the community. “These bad roads make it difficult for us to transport goods to the market, affecting our income. During heavy rain, the roads become flooded, and we lose hours trying to navigate through the mud,” Sani said.
Similarly, Musa Idi, a farmer in Palama, expressed concerns over the impact on agriculture. “Farmers here are struggling to move their produce, especially during harvest. Poor roads increase the costs and risks of transporting goods, and this affects our earnings. We just want the government to help us,” he explained.
The Bauchi State government has already initiated several road projects across the state, aiming to improve connectivity and support rural areas. Governor Bala Mohammed recently launched the construction of 115 kilometers of roads under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Projects, covering the state’s three senatorial zones.
However, residents of Palama are yet to see a clear plan for their area. They remain hopeful that these projects will eventually include their community, bringing relief from the daily challenges posed by the deteriorated roads.
Toro local government chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Dembo, has said his council will look into the challenge especially on road network in the community with the view of finding solution to the problem.
