Roads and bridges are important infrastructure that make movement easy in any community. A decent road network which comprises of drainages and bridges in any community makes the movement of goods and people easy. The reverse is the case when the roads are bad.
Yan Mangwarora area falls into the latter category and in addition to not having a good road network, their plight was compounded by the fact that the community was in dire need of a bridge to mitigate the effects of flooding and to also connect neighbouring communities such as Congo area, Bayan Asibitin Janbulu and Gida Dari Housing Estate.
Junaidu Dahiru in this report takes a look at how the Hajiya Lubuna Baba Gusau Foundation stepped in to address the challenge of poor access roads confronting Yan Mangwarora area of Gusau, the Zamfara state capital.
Residents of Yan Mangwarora area in Gusau the Zamfara state capital experienced the negative effects of poor road infrastructure especially during the rainy season.
The lack of a bridge also affected residents commuting to work, getting sick residents to hospital and movement of children to and from school.
Malam Usman Ibrahim Jauri ward head of Yan Mangwarora, explained that all efforts put in place by the communities residing in the area to ensure the provision of the bridge proved abortive as they did not have the expertise and financial strength to make it reality. PLAY:
Marwanatu Muhammad said the situation affected her family badly, as she was always afraid for her children during the rainy season because her son almost drowned on his way to school. PLAY:
These concerns according to Malam Jauri is what led them to approach Hajiya Lubuna Baba Gusau Foundation (LBG) to assist with the provision of a bridge.
The LBG Foundation is an organization founded by a prominent female politician in Zamfara Hajiya Lubuna Baba Gusau in honour of her late father with the mandate of Advancing human rights, healthcare, rehabilitation and awareness, building leadership and expanding reproductive freedoms.
Community leader of the LBG Foundation, Ibrahim Muhammad Papa who said the organisation spent six million naira on the project, explained that the Foundation was moved to intervene after the community approached them and described the difficulty they normally experience as a result of the lack of a bridge especially during the rainy season. PLAY:
Naziru ibrahim, secretary of Yan Mangwarora area community for development noted that they were happy with the development as the problem of road connection between communities has been overcome. PLAY:
For Musa Musa, a retired police officer residing in Yan Mangwarora area the LBG foundation deserved to be appreciated for her commitment in the service to humanity. PLAY:
While thanking the LBG Foundation for the provision of the bridge, ward head of Yan Mangwarora Malam Jauri however noted that the community still needs better drainages and roads as the communities still experiences flooding as a result of poor drainage system.
This story was produced by Gold City Fm 105.5 in partnership with Nigeria Health Watch through the Solutions Journalism Network.