Since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999, successive administrations make road provisions their top priority. Most state governments were able to deliver such democratic dividends to their people. Modern road networks are evident in (at least) the state capitals of most states in Nigeria.
Conspicuously, the contrary is true to Jos, the Plateau State capital. Jos metropolis has received the greatest negligence in the delivery of democratic dividends by the past administrations and the unpromising present government.
Provision of infrastructures like schools, hospitals, pipe borne water, roads, and a host of others, has remained a mirage to the peaceful and law abiding residents of the city.
The deplorable conditions of the roads in the heart of Jos are beyond everyone’s imagination. The New Market road, the Layin Zana road, the Duala road, the Rikkos-Yansiminti road, the Yanshanu Bypass, the School Lane by New Market, amongst uncountable others, readily come to mind as the most dilapidated roads found in any state capital in the twenty first century Nigeria.
To many, this is not unconnected to the fact that the Hausas constitute the dominant residents of the city.
The commuters plying such government abandoned roads and the traders along have many disheartening tales to tell.
Ibrahim Maina Ma’aji, a motorist in the city, has this to say; “our roads have been abandoned by the state governments for years. “If you go to Christian dominated areas, the roads there have been done by the government. “But because we’re mostly Muslims in the city centre, the government don’t care about us. “Even this Lalong era that we thought will change the narrative, it’s still nothing to write home about. “I hate to drive around the city because my car always gets damaged when I drive on these dilapidated roads.” He grudgingly said.
Another motorist, Saidu Muhammad, who spoke to me in Hausa, says; “the state of roads in this state is very sad. “Government is nowhere to be found in this city as far as social amenities are concerned. Just the roads in this city, government cannot fix not to talk of hospitals, schools or housing. “People here pack sands and debris elsewhere to fill-up potholes on the roads. “Driving on these roads always destroys our car legs and tyres, which make us regular visitors to mechanics.”
In the same vein, Muhammad Mansir, a commercial tricycle rider in the city, exploded in Hausa thus: “Saubiyu munatura Motar Lalong, dayatashi saiyabarmu dakura”, implying that Governor Lalong deliberately ignores their quest for development in the area despite their massive support for him during the elections.
Another tricycle rider, Mukhtar Muhammad expressed his displeasure also in Hausa as follows: “munajin cewa wai shine shugaban gomnonin Arewa, amma duk wanda yazo kwaryar Jos yaga yadda hanyoyi suka lalace babukulawar gomnati zaisan cewa Lalong baichanchanci wannan muqaminba”, roughly translated to mean, “we heard that Lalong is the Chairman, Northern Governors Forum. “But on coming to the heart of Jos and seeing the bad state of the roads, you’ll know that he does not deserve that position.”
Ibrahim Umar, a trader along the New Market road, also lamented that “the government came and cleared the road as if they will rehabilitate it, but they left it afterwards, undone. “Consequently, the dusts arising from the abandoned road dirty our wares and cause many health related problems to us.”
More so, Haruna Uzairu, an aged trader along the New Market road said he was trading there for the past twenty five years. But since the last three years, when the government came and excavated the road in the name of reconstruction, he has suffered many untold hardships. That he is now asthmatic which hitherto he wasn’t. Also, that he is indebted to others for up to N100,000 owing to the lost of customers because of the dusty road. In addition, the aged trader went so emotional when he disclosed that he hardly sells for five hundred naira now due to the nature of the road.
In general, the residents of Jos score the present administration very poor, attributing the neglect to the religion they belong, since most of the Christians areas have been developed—leaving the Muslims to wallow in hardships. This, they said, is based on the fact that more than any prior administration in the state, the Lalong administration promised to fix the city’s roads. As a result, the residents accorded him block votes in the last two elections that gave him overwhelming victory against his PDP opponents. Ironically, therefore, he turned a blind eye to their misery.
Can Lalong ever see to their plight? Only time shall tell!
Muhammad Sulaiman Galadima writes from Jos.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect WikkiTimes’ editorial stance.
