As the construction of a 25.5-kilometre dual carriageway, connecting Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State to the international airport in the state, stalls, residents said they are being exposed to hazards as they go about their daily activities.
In 2018, the Yobe State Government awarded N4.9 billion for road construction to Rick Rock Construction Limited, a Plateau-based company. But findings by UDEME, a Premium Times platform showed that it had not been completed four years after.
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Umar Musa, a 34-year-old resident, said he had had significant accidents due to the deplorable state of the road.
“I had an accident on this unfinished road last week when a commercial bus driver tried to avoid a particularly large pothole,” he told the platform.
A 34-year-old resident, Babagana Lawan, also spoke about a traumatic incident he experienced while travelling on the road.
“Just a few months ago, I had a major accident with my car involving a commercial bus. The bus was attempting to navigate a particularly rough section of the road when its front tire got stuck in a deep pothole. I lost control, and the bus overturned, causing several injuries among the passengers. It was a chaotic scene, and emergency services had to be called to provide immediate medical assistance to us,” Lawan said.
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As the road deteriorates further, a farmer, Musa Abdullahi, said transporting his crops to the market has been difficult.
“It’s been a real challenge. I’m a farmer, and I rely on being able to transport my crops to the Damaturu market. But with the road in such poor condition, it’s become almost impossible to get my goods to market promptly. It’s affecting my income and my ability to provide for my family,” said Abdullahi.
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request was sent to the Yobe State Ministry of Works, asking for details of funds released to the contractor so far, but the ministry “failed to respond.”
Also, the staff members of the company refused to comment on the issue.
