By Ogalla Daniel
The Member representing Yagba West State Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Ibikunle Idowu, has called for urgent government intervention to address the deplorable state of roads and bridges in his constituency.
Hon. Idowu made the call while supporting a motion of urgent government intervention in Bassa Local Government Area, moved by the Member representing Bassa State Constituency, Hon. Sunday Daku, during plenary of the Assembly.
The lawmaker who said the challenges confronting communities in Yagba West were similar to those highlighted in the motion raised, noted that the situation had become critical, particularly during the rainy season.
He said the collapse of Uyi Bridge had effectively cut off his community from other parts of Kogi State, making movement between communities extremely difficult.
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“I stand here and cry out that my community is cut off. I came from Yagba West, but my own community is affected. The Uyi Bridge has fallen. We are blocked out of Kogi State. You cannot move from Egbe to Ubige.”
He noted that residents had been forced to rely on an alternative route through Irele Ekiti in Ekiti State, but the road, which is only about five kilometres, had also been washed away by flooding.
According to him, virtually all the bridges and culverts along the route are dilapidated, leaving residents with no reliable road link to other parts of the local government.
The lawmaker expressed concern over the security implications of the poor road network, noting that residents and farmers were finding it increasingly difficult to move around or access their farms.
He said although government was making efforts to address insecurity through support for local vigilante groups, the poor state of the roads had compounded the challenges confronting his constituents.
On education, Hon. Idowu said the shortage of teachers in some communities in Yagba West was another major concern.
He explained that many parents and farmers were already struggling economically, while insecurity had also affected their ability to access their farms.
The lawmaker who said education remained one of his priorities, noted that he had introduced a “Back-to-School” initiative to support pupils in his constituency with exercise books as schools commence a new academic session.
He said the initiative was aimed at reducing the financial burden on parents and supporting children from poor households.
Hon. Idowu also listed other interventions he had undertaken in the constituency, including the drilling and motorisation of boreholes, as well as support for roads and bridges.
He reiterated his commitment to raising issues affecting his constituents at the Assembly and urged relevant authorities to give urgent attention to the road infrastructure challenges confronting Yagba West.
