By Olokuta Rofiat
Farmers in Ebaji community, Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have appealed to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to urgently complete the abandoned Ebaji-Rimba-Pandagi road project, which they say has crippled economic activities in the area.
Speaking with Daily Trust, the farmers lamented that the road, awarded years ago by the FCT Administration through the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), was abandoned midway, leaving residents and traders stranded. They said the project’s abandonment has made it extremely difficult to transport farm produce to Abaji town and other markets, especially during the rainy season.
Residents said they now spend hours struggling to move perishable goods through the muddy and impassable route.
Some farmers revealed they have resorted to using motorcycles to transport small quantities of crops, while others have abandoned farming entirely due to high transport costs and frequent produce spoilage.
The village head of Ebaji, Alhaji Mohammed Tsado, described the road as the community’s lifeline, linking several settlements across Abaji and parts of Niger State.
He said residents once contributed money to patch portions of the road and even began constructing a bridge across a nearby river but could not continue due to lack of funds.
An official of the Abaji Area Council, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the council chairman had written to the FCT Minister, appealing to the federal authorities to revisit and re-award the project.
The source noted that the contract was first awarded under a previous FCT administration but stalled due to funding challenges.
The farmers and residents urged the FCT Administration to prioritise the project’s completion, warning that continued neglect could worsen rural poverty and food insecurity in the area.
