By Comrade Ogbu A. Ameh
Bwari area Council is one of the six area councils in the Federal Capital territory. It is strategically ensconced between hard high-rise rocky hills that border Niger and Kaduna States. The natural monument gives the area its beautiful and splendid panoramic view accentuated with conducive atmospheric ambience.
Bwari village, which over time has been undergoing rural urban gentrification is host to the Nigeria Law school. JAMB headquarters, Usma Dam. Military Defence Camp, Bwari Pottery and other private hospitality services. This process of rural gentrification perhaps was occasioned by the location of the area council secretariat on the land. Since then, other intervening social factors have helped in triggering influx of people, trade and services into the area.
Top among these factors is the threat of demolition and actual demolitions in some parts of the FCT in the past. Another worthy factor of note that escalated the influx is the worsening economic crisis. The center has become too expensive for the average income earners. Artisans and traders are perennially under siege by government agents over environmental related laws and its violations. Hence, given the contiguity of Bwari to AMAC, it becomes the refugee location for all those fleeing from pain, embarrassment ensuing from constant harassment. This influx has mixed impacts on the host community as available land and roads came under severe utilization and stress. The village became over populated and very sordid lacking sanitation and social amenities.
The roads came under severe decline due to over use and lack of maintenances and rehabilitations. For vehicle owners and commuters alike, the fear of Bwari road is the beginning of wisdom. What would have been a sigh of relief for the residents is the Urban Mass Transport service. This relief was cut short no sooner than it started. Reasons abound as to why the service has been far from the expected objectives right from the outset. The fleet deployed on that route is hardly sufficient due to huge population of commuters. Bwari residents overflow to encompass adjourning areas like; kuduru village, Kichiko after Law School, Garam in Niger state and all the settlement villages’ enroute Dutse town.
It is a long stretch of rural road commuted on a daily basis by numerous suburb dwellers. It is home to many who commute from the city arterials to their various places of endeavor. The urban mass transport company must as a matter of public service interest rescinds its decision not to deploy road worthy new model buses on Bwari road. The commuters are punished unduly as the task of road building and maintenance lie with the government through its relevant agencies. The people over time are over stretched, as they toil in the midst of plenty, yet have nothing to show for it. They continue to suffer and smiling even in the midst of the grinding harsh economic reality on ground. The people in government seem not to have solutions to the worsening situation and yet put up air of disconnect with the people.
Ameh is Author of In The Struggle and FCT State NCP Director of Mobilization and Planning
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