Residents of Bondon Ward in the Kaura LGA of Kaduna have embarked on a self-help project to construct a double-cell ring culvert along a road connecting 10 communities.
The district head of Bondon, Moro’a Chiefdom, Jonathan Mamam, disclosed this during a telephone interview on Wednesday.
Mr Mamam said that the road leading to Government Secondary School Bondon also connects to other communities, notably Unguwan Sankwai, Motuak, Hayin Gora, Tsunbwanu, and Rafin Gora.
He explained that the project, which began on Monday, became necessary following annual rainfall that floods the road corridor because of a lack of culverts, cutting off communities and preventing residents from free movement.
The traditional leader explained that the project involves the construction of a double-cell ring culvert, a drainage structure designed to allow water to pass under a road using two parallel, pre-cast concrete pipe rings.
He said that the project requires 16 pre-cast concrete pipe rings at N20,000 each, including transportation, 30 bags of cement, and N50,000 worth of wooden planks.
He said that the community have already procured eight pipe rings, adding, however, that one of the rings broke during offloading, leaving a balance of nine. He also said that 25 bags of cement were procured with donations and contributions from community members, including support from the chief of Moro’a, Isiaku Tagwai-Sambo, and Ladi Bantex.
He said the decision to pursue the self-help project was because communities could no longer depend on the government for everything. He called for more support from sons and daughters of the land, the Kaura Local Government Council, political appointees from the area and other well-meaning Nigerians to enable them to complete the project before the rainy season begins.
Ashinge Bondon, national public relations officer of the Moro’a Development Association, youth wing, who is using social media handles to mobilise more funds, described the project as “critical” to the well-being of the people.
Mr Bondon said the road remained a major challenge for residents of the affected communities whenever it rains.
He disclosed that a culvert was constructed on the affected portion of the road about five years ago, with support from Kalat Shemang, an assistant commissioner of police from the community.
He, however, said that over time, the culvert was washed away by flooding water, which occurs every rainy season.
(NAN)