By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Jigawa state government has directed the repair and reconstruction of bridges and culverts that were destroyed by recent flood disaster that cut-off hundreds of communities in the State from the rest of the world.
The Director engineering Services Jigawa Road Maintenance Agency Engineer Yusif Abdullahi, who gave the indication recently, said his agency had commenced repairs and reconstruction of the bridges and culverts to link back the communities to other parts of the country.
Abdullahi explained that, they have been working day and night to reclaim some roads/bridges to reconnect the affected communities with other parts of the world.
According to him, thousands of people were trapped in communities that were cut- off as a result of collapse of bridge/culvert and other damages to roads in recent weeks”.
He listed some of the roads damaged by the flood disaster to include Dutse- Madobi-Gambarin, Kiyawa- Jahun- Gujungu, Karnaya-Gabarin, Chaichai-Ringim, Guru Kadara, Kiyawa- Birnin Kudu,
Gwaram- Basirika and Ringim- Gidan Lage among others.
Abdullahi continued saying that some of the roads were already reclaimed through temporary measures like renovation while work is ongoing in some places to provide alternatives that can allow people access to outside their communities.
According to him, the major challenge they are facing currently is how to access the damaged sites as the floods have continued to wreck more havoc in the affected areas.
He called on the people of the state to continue cooperating with the government as it is doing its best to minimize the difficulties they are facing on account of the floods and its attendant effect of road collapse across the state.
Earlier the permanent secretary in the ministry Eng. Datti Ahmed announced that the state Government has constituted a ten member committee of engineers to ascertain the level of damages caused by the floods to prevent future occurrence.
Ahmed indicated that the State Governor, Badaru Abubakar has approved the establishment of the committee with the aim of finding lasting solution to flood disaster in the state.
According to him, nine roads have been damaged by the flood disaster in the state.
The roads according to him, include, Rabadi culvert along Gwaram Basirka road, , Birnin Kudu bridge, Madobi road, Kiyawa Jamaare road, Karnaya chai-chai, chai-chai Ringim, and Ringim-gidan lage road.