Good roads as prerequisite for development, by Abdulkadir Yusuf Nafanwona

Good road is a prerequisite for socioeconomic and political development of every society. This is not supposed to be a privilege but a right of the citizenry and an obligation on the part of the government towards the people. It is most unfortunate that the entire people of Patigi LGA have since been denied this singular right for decades, thereby being subjected to decay of economic and social activities and discouragement of investors from harnessing the investment opportunities of this area and rapid increase on unemployment rate.

Share-Patigi Road is the only road linking Patigi LGA of Kwara State with the outside world and it has been on deplorable state for long as it is evident above. Only recently did the Federal Government through Hon. Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, announced its approval for rehabilitation among other federal roads across the country.

To our greatest dismay, other roads approved for rehabilitations and reconstructions same time with Share – Patigi road had since been awarded and contractors mobilized to sites and nothing has been done on ours which is the bedrock of our survival as a people.

With this, we are calling on the Federal Government and all other relevant stakeholders to come to our aid by awarding it soonest to a reputable construction company for immediate commencement of work and save us from been cut off from the outside world as if nothing is done urgently on the said road, any heavy rain now might be the end of the road.

We are crying out now because we tired of losing our loved ones and bread winners to incessant accidents as a result of the bad state of the said road. Until recently reduced by the activities of the vigilantes, armed robbers had hitherto taken over the road robbing people of their valuables on daily bases. A journey from Patigi to Ilorin, the state capital used to be two and half hours but today, it is five to six hours. What a pathetic situation, we found ourselves.

We urge the Federal Government under the able leadership of the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo to rescue our community and the posterity would come to see your name in gold.

. Nafanwona writes from Kwara State.