By Stanley Onyekwere
Following the completion of the 9 kilometer Paikon Kore/Ibwa rural road rehabilitation project in Gwagwalada Area Council of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), some community leaders and stakeholders have expressed profound gratitude and excitement over its reverberating sigh of relief for the people from their hitherto decades of nightmarish experiences traversing the area.
This mood was made palpable this weekend when some journalists interacted with the people during a visit to the construction site of the project, which was flagged off first week of February, 2024 by FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, as one of the the rural emergency projects initiated, to boost security and socio-economic activities across the territory.
According to Senaka Rupanetti, a senior project manager in Setraco Nigeria Ltd, the contractor handling the project having about 17 culverts, it was completed in December 2024, and handed over to the FCT Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD).
He said: “Except the skilled workers, all the helpers, labourers who were engaged in this project are from all of these two communities (Paikon Kore and Ibwa). In addition, because of the skills we need, we brought the outsiders also. But, most of the people we engaged were from these two communities.
“The host communities have given full support to us and they are very happy with us, with the way they are doing.
“Also, if any disturbances come, they will engage themselves, their chiefs are coming and helping us to resolve any issues that come. So, we don’t have any problem with the communities.
“So, we have completed it, and also the minister had funded earlier than when we started the job. So, it is easier for us to complete the project. So, he (Wike) has helped us to complete this project.”
However, as succinctly narrated by Umar Faruk Abubakar, a staunch stakeholder in the Palace of the Chairman, Traditional Council of Chiefs, Gwagwalada Area Council, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Muhammadu Magaji, the Aguma of Gwagwalada: “Years before now, if you are asked to go to Ibwa, you begin to think, are you going to fly or do you need a helicopter to go? But today, in the infinite mercy of God Almighty, the Honorable Minister of Federal Capital Territory, who he has said (promised) and done it.
“Now in the next 10-15 minutes from Paikon-kore, you are already in Ibwa, so there is nothing that is more good than what he has done on that road. So, we will continue to thank him, as he has done so much.
“The highest ranking traditional ruler in Gwagwalada Area Council is the Aguma of Gwagwalada. So, we are appreciating him on behalf of Gwagwalada Area Council, because this palace is the palace of the Chairman of Traditional Council of Chiefs in the Council.
“So, we are thanking him most sincerely for what he has done for us in Gwagwalada Area Council. May God continue to preserve him so that we begin to see more of his handwork in Gwagwalada Area Council.”
Also, for Ibrahim Umar, who described himself as the Community Liaison Officer Paikonkore-Ibwa communities, his people are thrilled by the complete transformation of the road from what it used to be over decades of its existence even before the creation of the FCT.
Umar said the road aside from improving movement of humans and goods, it has also enhanced efforts at addressing the security challenges in the area.
He opined that the people especially the farmers are now being empowered to farm more, as they would be able to easily and securely convey their farm produce to and from the towns.
In his words: “For quiet decades, we find it difficult to transport our farm produce to the city centre especially Gwagwalada towns, and its environs, but we are happy that we can do so now with ease.
“This road was changed because of God Almighty, and because of honourable minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, who has deemed it fit to bring this project down to Gwagwalada, and not only Gwagwalada, but to remember the people of Paikon-kore and Ibwa communities.
“The main bridge that cut the two communities off, and during raining season we find it very difficult to cross across. Particularly, students in primary school, students of SS 1, JSS 3, especially around August and September, they find it difficult to cross to places to where their schools are located.
“But because the bridge has been done now successfully, I believe that during raining season now, anybody can go to wherever they wish to go.
“We are thanking President Bola Tinubu who had made it possible to appoint Barrister Nyesom Wike as FCT minister, who deemed it fit to link the rural communities to other part of the territory. We feel very proud of having him in FCT.”
Recall that Wike had reiterated that the project was one of the roads that Mr. President directed that must be completed in the satellite towns, so as to improve access to the farmlands and markets in the rural areas, thereby enhancing food security in the territory and country at large.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
