SOS to Gov. Simon Lalong

 

It is not about the construction of a new road in Rikkos, but about filling a deep erosion, more than 10 meters deep, which threatens to cut off the community from the rest of the city.
Rikkos, a densely populated settlement located at the center of Jos city, is a host to many states, local government institutions and a federal agency such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
It is also the center of many small and medium scale businesses including bakeries, sachets water factories, block factories, super markets, and relaxation joints.
But recently, Rikkos community is facing serious environmental and health challenges as a result of deep erosion that has eaten more than half of the only road leading the community to the main city.
The pit has been estimated to an approximate depth of over 10 meters with a width expanding daily as more pressure is applied on the small portion left for commuters and pedestrians to pass through.
To reduce the unpleasant look and the depth of the hole, the community had to carelessly allow for the dumping of refuse into the large hole just to fill it to some level pending when government will look into the horrific situation.
This solution has however subjected the community to more harm than good making the site a good breeding ground for deadly insects and consequently prone to many diseases like malaria, typhoid and other infectious diseases.
Moreover, no less than two to three accidents occur on a daily basis as a result of this very narrow remnant of the road where commuters have to be very careful before they can maneuver their way.
The danger posed by this road is not only restricted to car drivers alone, but is affecting other road users like cyclists, pedestrians and Keke NAPEP riders.
On a typical day, countless students and pupils throng the dangerous road, apart from the over hundred vehicles that compete for the narrow passage which provides the only access to and from Rikkos.
Therefore, we the residents of this community are appealing to Governor Simon Lalong to come to our aid by fixing this dangerous portion of Rikkos road so as to save lives and ease our business and other activities.
We know that Governor Lalong has a listening ear because we notice that his government has been repairing other roads elsewhere in the city that are not as bad as ours.
Many efforts have been made by members of the community to inform the state government about the situation, but I understand that the government has not been properly briefed about the enormity of the problem.
It would be pertinent to note that strangers face serious risk of becoming victims of this dangerous road as they may not be aware of its deadly nature.

Abdulmajid Lawan,
[email protected]

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