*prices of foodstuff skyrocket, fuel stations dry up
“District Head, council chairman lead self help initiative
By; DAHIRU SULEIMAN, Dutse
Prices of foodstuff and essential commodities have skyrocketed, while filling stations have dried off in Birnin-Kudu and Gwaram LGA as a result of being cut off highways and bridges linking the two major roads as a result of flooding.
In a telephone conversation with one of the flood affected victims of Birnin-Kudu, Hamisu Kantoga, he said, “really life is miserable with us here in Birnin-Kudu as we’re in a terrible condition, since there is no road to our town due to flooding which broke down our three major bridges.
“As I am speaking to you now, to cross over Birnin-Kudu is hectic as transport fare was doubled due to absence of access roads, food and fuel supply in most of our filling stations have vanished.
“Presently prices of foodstuff and essential goods are soaring. We’re now in the hands of God for his divine mercy on our lives.
“For example, a measure, of rice is selling at N1,800, a horrible scarcity of petroleum products is devastating, among other essential commodities.”
In search of solution to their predicament, the flood-ravaged communities have embarked on communal initiatives as alternative towards repairing the three collapsed bridges, in getting access roads to the two ancient cities.
Leading the communal initiatives, the District Head of Birnin-Kudu in Jigawa State, Alh. Garba Hassan Jibrin supported by the Birnin-Kudu Council Chairman, Alh. Magaji Hassan Jigo said the idea to embark on the initiative was informed by the need to search for a solution.
“The flood menace has stagnated us. We won’t wait for empty promises from our leaders any more, instead, we would find an alternative,” he said.
The three days intensive labour for access roads was successful as an access road was created on one of the collapsed bridges for motorists and pedestrians.
During the three days communal initiative, it was gathered that Birnin-Kudu Council alongside Senator Sabo Mohammed Nakudu and Engineer Da’u Aliyu supported the projects with dozens of bags of cement, iron rods, multiple trucks of sand, among other building materials.
The initiative was successful as the road was fully reactivated and the collapsed bridge along Birnin-Kudu- Masaya road was fully filled up and cemented.
It was further gathered that a road a truck of fuel has managed to cross over the bridge to Birnin-Kudu Council from neighboring Kano State.
