Bauchi State House of Assembly has adopted a motion calling on the State Government to as a matter of urgency carry out emergency repairs, rehabilitate and upgrade of deplorable Ningi-Burra road in Ningi Local Government area of the state.
The adoption followed a motion by the Member representing Burra Constituency in the House, Hon. Ibrahim Tanko, who explained that Ningi-Burra road is one of the longest and important state-owned roads in Bauchi State which covers about 120 kilometers constructed by the Administration of Mallam Isah Yuguda after many years of nightmares by travelers from and to Burra, who had to pass through about 10 Local Governments in Kano and Jigawa States before reaching their Local Government Headquarters, Ningi an6d State Capital, Bauchi.
He added that despite the very important disposition of Ningi-Burra road, the road is in critical condition and at the verge of collapse, stressing that it is currently under serious threat by erosion, flooding and desertification in which many bridges and culverts have either collapsed, partly washed away or at the verge of collapsing and surfaces and asphalt on the road are washed away with many potholes at almost every inch of the road.
He said, “Mr. Speaker, my Honourable Colleagues, people of Burra are finding it difficult to use this road, especially during the rainy season. Just last year, some bridges collapsed which led to cutting off Burra to other parts of the State. At that time, we were taken to the dark days of passing through Kano and Jigawa States before reaching our Local Government Headquarters and other parts of the State.”
“At this juncture, I will extend my profound gratitude to the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, His Excellency Senator Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad Kauran Bauchi for his prompt action in which the bridges were repaired and people resumed their usual activities on the road. Mr. Speaker, my Honourable Colleagues, there are many other bridges and culverts that can collapse whenever there is heavy rainfall. There is the serious need for the Government to avert the looming danger approaching Ningi-Burra road. Looking at the strategic socio economic importance of Ningi-Burra road, there is the need for quick action so that it will collapse and subsequently disconnect us from the State.”
He added that,”It’s a well known fact that Burra is an agrarian area where large scale farming takes place all year round. The road immensely contributed in making it easy for farmers to transport their farm produce to all parts of the Country, in some cases even to foreign countries. The road has also helped in boosting commercial activities in Burra Constituency. This is because the people of Burra are very enterprising and our closeness to Kano has made Burra one of the economic hubs of the state and center of inter-state markets.”
“Ningi-Burra road now serve as the alternative route to Kano from Bauchi. Whenever there is problem on the Bauchi -Kano road, this road serves as the alternative. Many commuters even see it as the fastest road to Kano from Bauchi, save for the bad condition of the road.” The Member submitted.
Ibrahim Tanko Burra therefore urged the House to request the Executive arm to embark on emergency repair of all bridges and culverts at the verge of collapse on the road, and carry out erosion control on the depth and width of the road together with total rehabilitation and upgrade of Ningi-Burra with a standard asphalt.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Abubakar Y. Suleiman commended Hon. Ibrahim Tanko Burra for being the first Member to move a motion about his people in the 10th Assembly of Bauchi State observing that with the caliber of Members like Hon. Ibrahim Tanko in the Assembly, the people of the state will get a lot of dividends of democracy.
Contributing, Hon. Barr. Habibu Umar representing Kirfi Constituency congratulated Hon. Ibrahim Tanko for the very important motion and narrated an experience he had when he traveled to Burra for an issue in which it took him the whole day before he reached Burra and returned to Bauchi because of the condition of the road.
Hon. Habibu Umar testified that Burra is an agrarian area where large farming takes place round the year, therefore requested for the reconstruction of the road.
Hon. Dr. Nasiru Ahmed Ala representing Chinade/Madara Constituency said that the motion was timely looking at the importance of road and explained that though he never visited Burra in his life, but used to receive reports about difficulties in travelling to Burra.
He stated that,”Mr Speaker, when I was Lecturer in the College of Education Azare, whenever we posted supervisors to visit our teaching practice students, they would either protest or request for a change of location. I later found that it was the road to Burra that is the problem. Burra is a big area with a big population and resources. I therefore request the road should be upgraded, there is a security problem in the area, it will also go in line with tackling security problems affecting the area.”
Minority Leader ,Hon. Bala Abdu Rishi representing Lame Constituency said that Burra Constituency is his closest neighbor Constituency, therefore the motion is not only important but affects his Constituency adding that the Ningi-Burra road also link his Constituency to Kano State because his Constituents use the road to travel to Kano.
While commending Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad for rehabilitation of Magama-Rishi-Gumau road and construction of new roads from Sabon Garin Tulu to Tulu, hoped that it will be extended from Sabon Garin Tulu to Burra and reconstruction of Ningi-Burra road.
Deputy Speaker, Hon. Jamilu Umaru Dahiru representing Bauchi Central Constituency advised that the member representing Darazo Constituency should come with an independent motion about the Darazo Gabchiyari road like the motion on Ningi-Burra road so that it will get more attention.
After the contributions, the House unanimously adopted the motion and directed the executive arm to execute the project as soon as possible to ease the problem of the people of the area.
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