Yobe State Government has constructed roads linking the long-neglected and water-locked communities of Tagali, Masaba, and Karasuwa-Galu, breaking a jinx that lasted over five decades.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Director General, Press and Media Affairs to the Governor, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, in Damaturu on Tuesday.
The statement said that the communities had agitated for road access for several decades without success until the administration of Gov. Mai Mala Buni intervened.
It noted that the people of Karasuwa-Galu had in 1972, during the construction of the Gashua–Nguru highway under the defunct North Eastern State, appealed for the extension of the road to their community, but the request was not granted.
“The dream persisted through the defunct North Eastern State, old Borno State, and 32 years after the creation of Yobe State. Some of the agitators died without witnessing its actualisation,” the statement said.
It added that the Chumbusko–Tagali road also remained impassable for decades, especially during the rainy season, thereby isolating the town of Tagali and limiting its development.
The Masaba community also suffered a similar fate, with difficulties in transporting goods and accessing healthcare facilities in Gashua.
The statement said that Gov. Buni flagged off the construction of the roads in 2023 as part of efforts to improve rural infrastructure and end decades of suffering by the people.
It said the administration also reconstructed the Danchua–Jajere road, which had long been in a dilapidated state.
According to the statement, the completed and ongoing road projects have already started to stimulate economic activities, create employment opportunities, and improve access to markets in Gashua and Nguru.
“The roads have reduced the exploitation of farmers by middlemen, as produce can now be transported with ease,” the statement added.
It quoted the governor as reiterating his commitment to equitable development and improving the living conditions of people in rural communities.
