Politics News

Nigeria@59: FCT community’s residents “beg” government for electricity supply, schools

Residents of Kpaduma and Kobi villages in the Asokoro extension area of Abuja in the FCT on Tuesday urged the government to provide schools and electricity power supply in their communities.

A cross-section of the residents, while speaking in Abuja, said the provision of electricity and schools would enable them enjoy the dividends of democracy.

The residents, while stating their expectations as Nigeria holds its 59th Independence Day celebration, said their situation has gone to the point of having to beg government to do what was necessary.

Malam Abdullahi Mohammed, a resident of the area, said he had been living in the community for over 20 years without enjoying any form of government presence.

“In spite of the fact that the community is within the Abuja metropolis, we have never enjoyed the benefits of the government.

“We have no public secondary school here and our children are forced to go as far as the Sani Abacha barracks and Maitama district to acquire education.”

He therefore called on government not to disappoint the people, and rather focus on infrastructural development in communities which lacked adequate government presence.

Similarly, another resident, Mr Irimiya Sunday, blamed poor access to education in the area for the fast-increasing high rates of school dropouts, teenage pregnancy and crime in the community.

“If we have schools, a lot of children will be engaged, and many will have little time to engage in criminal or immoral activities.

“This will also reduce the hardship on the parents in the community, who are mostly farmers, petty traders and labourers.”

On her own part, Mrs Juliana Musa, a trader in the area, appealed for electricity power supply to the Kpaduma 3 as it would improve the residents’ lives, businesses and health.

“In spite of the promises by politicians to provide transformer and electricity supply, we have never had electricity supply in Kpaduma 3. We have been living in darkness, and our children have never seen light, except when they visit other communities.

“Our appeal is that President Muhammadu Buhari, political representatives and the electricity company should pity us and put an end to this state of darkness.”

Similarly, Blessing David, another resident of the area, added that provision of electricity would help reduce the need to trek far to get access to water in the community.

“We have to walk far to fetch water from a river or buy from people who drilled boreholes.

“Government should come to our aid for us to enjoy the dividends of democracy, by establishing schools, providing electricity and health care.”

On his own part, Mr Emmanuel Sarki who is also a long-time resident of the area, called on government to equip the health care centre in Kobi to enable the four communities in the area have access to medical aid.

He was however optimistic that President Buhari’s second tenure would bring about a focus by the government on areas which had not enjoyed government presence in the past.

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