Residents of Kusaki community in Gaube ward, Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been left stranded following the collapse of the only bridge connecting them to neighboring villages.
According to Bissalla Ibrahim, a resident of Kusaki, the bridge collapsed over two weeks ago due to heavy flooding caused by torrential rains. Since then, residents, particularly farmers, have struggled to access their farms and nearby communities.
“This bridge connected us to our farms and neighboring villages. Now, it’s a daily struggle for us, especially the farmers,” Ibrahim said.
In response to the collapse, locals built a makeshift wooden bridge to allow residents and farmers to cross. However, the improvised solution is far from ideal, with women now having to carry farm produce across the wooden structure before loading it onto vehicles heading to Kuje market.
Community leader Samson Iliya lamented the hardship residents have faced since the bridge collapsed, urging authorities in the Kuje Area Council, led by Chairman Abdullahi Suleiman Sabo, to take immediate action to reconstruct the bridge.
An official from the council’s works department, who requested anonymity, confirmed they had received reports about the collapsed bridge and that the chairman had been informed. He assured that efforts would soon be made to address the situation.