By Kasim Isa Muhammad
Situated along Kano Road tight-knit, community of Gada in Potiskum, finds itself enveloped in an unrelenting state of distress.
Hearts of residents are heavy, with sorrow and fear as they witness merciless force of erosion, which ruthlessly tears apart, the very fabric of shelters. The calamitous grip of this natural disaster has thrust countless Gada residents into a harrowing journey of displacement, intensifying the already dire consequences that have befallen their lives.
During every rainy season, the residents of Gada, specifically known as Unguwar Kwari, endure sleepless nights filled with fear that their houses will be destroyed by heavy rainfall. This fear emanates from the impact of erosion, which has extensively affected their homes due to the lack of reconstruction of drainages and culverts.
To ascertain the claims, The Citizen Reports conducted an extensive investigation into the devastating effects of erosion in the Gada Area and witnessed the severe impact the erosion has had on the community.
Some of the residents expressed, in our interview, deep frustration, revealing that they have repeatedly lodged numerous complaints with the authorities concerning the issue. Unfortunately, despite their pleas, the government is yet to take any substantial action to address the problem.
Abdul Karim Rabi’u Mato, a resident of Gada, shared his serious concern with The Citizen Reports about the imminent threat to his sole house by the devastating erosion.
He emotionally recounted that the erosion has worsened due to the government’s indifferent approach to ensuring sufficient waterways in Potiskum and its environs.
“I am deeply concerned about the ongoing erosion threat that poses a considerable risk to our homes. We live in constant fear of losing our houses to erosion. I kindly request Governor Mai-Mala Buni to provide assistance and support to our community during this difficult time.” He said.
Another resident, Abbas Hassan also shared with TCR about the impending erosion threat to his home, as it is now a mere 8 meters away.
“This rainy season has taken a toll on me psychologically, as I find myself uncertain of where to seek refuge if my house succumbs to erosion. I earnestly appeal to Yobe State Government to intervene promptly and help safeguard our lives.” Abbas concluded.
Mallam Salihu, also strongly emphasized that a majority of the people residing in Unguwar Kwari are underprivileged and have been grappling with erosion issues for several years.
“We placed our trust in Governor Mai-Mala Buni when we cast our votes, hoping that our problems would be addressed and resolved.”He further said.
Some of the dwellers of Gada told The Citizen Reports that the construction company named FERMA, had been awarded a contract by Governor Ibrahim Geidam’s administration to construct culverts as a measure to address the menace.
According to them, the project carried out by FERMA was highly unprofessional, lasting only a few months before it collapsed.
Despite the failure project, the subsequent administration of Governor Geidam had in 2018 awarded a contract to Mothercat Construction Company.
Unfortunately, the efforts of the Mothercat also proved to be short-lived, as their project only lasted for a few months before being devastated.
In addition, the investigation conducted by The Citizen Reports reveals that the Gada community in Potiskum is facing the devastating consequences of erosion, which poses a severe threat to their homes and lives.
However, despite their repeated complaints and pleas, the Yobe State Government is yet to take residual action to address the problem. Furthermore, the construction companies awarded contracts to tackle the erosion issue have been unable to provide a lasting solution, further exacerbating the distress faced by the residents.
Similarly, TCR noted that the failure to address the erosion problem will have far-reaching and overwhelming consequences beyond the Gada community; as it will impact the entire town of Potiskum. This is because the erosion will eventually affect the bridge that connects Potiskum with neighbouring states such as Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Gombe.
As a result, business activities in the town will be severely affected, as a significant number of trucks carrying goods rely on the Unguwar Kwari bridge for transportation.
Given these circumstances, all relevant parties shall intervene and take action to address this erosion issue promptly.
Efforts to hear from the Yobe State Government halt as of the time of filing this report.
Your reaction