Border communities urge Kebbi, Niger govts to fix collapsing bridge

The people of Mamba, Nasko,Tungan Hala, Salka, border communities in Niger and Kebbi States have appealed to the governments to urgently fix the collapsing bridge linking them.

The people of the farming communities, although separated by man-made boundary, share cultural, religious and ethnic affinities.

However, the state of the bridge linking the communities is now threatening this agelong affinity.

North Central Trust observed that greater portion of the bridge around Mamba community along KontagoraNasko road, the headquarters of Magama local government area, has been washed away by flood during the last rainy season.

Malam Musa, a farmer and resident of Mamba community on the Niger side of the border, said he was worried that the remaining portion would not be washed away during the next rainy season.

“The flood keeps eating up parts of the bridge gradually every season and despite our repeated appeals government of the two states seem to have turned deaf ears,” he lamented.

According to him, villagers, every year engage in self-help to prevent the bridge from collapsing.

“But as it were, we seem to have exhausted all efforts and from all indications it will hardly survive this season,” he said.

He further said villagers in the area had to be using local canoe as alternative means of transportation.

Malam Na Gwagude also said despite paying taxes and contributing their quarters in the development of their state, they still lack social amenities like schools and healthcare facilities.

Also, Abubakar Bala from Tungan Hala in Wara Ngaski local government of Kebbi State narrated the same ordeal suffered by communities within the boundary of the two states.

“We are also faced with similar problems like the other communities because of lack of access to basic amenities. Now if the bridge collapses we will be doomed,” he said.