Abdullahi Ibrahim is a yam farmer in Baruteen Local Government Area of Kwara State. In 2019, he witnessed a boom in his farming business. But his prospect of becoming a successful farmer soon fades when he realized there’s no way he could move his produce to markets in neigbouring towns. The roads that link his village to other surrounding town is in a perilous state.
“The politicians before now will come and blow us lies. We are farmers and we transport our goods through More road to Kishi in Oyo State. We have more than enough for the whole community, but transporting it to make money is the problem. The roads are just too bad. And as we all know that farming communities thrive as they produced food not only for local consumption, but also for export,” Ibrahim who is resident in Bode Babane community told The Informant247.
At Nigeria’s independence in 1960, agriculture was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. Agricultural production for export provided the stimulus to Nigeria’s overall economic growth and also provided employment to over 75% of the population and accounted for over 70% of total food consumption. It also provided raw materials for industry, export earnings to finance imports and foreign exchange. After the 1970s oil boom, agriculture was left to rot and the country could no longer produce enough food for its fast-growing population let alone have surpluses for export.
Describing agriculture as the backbone of the Nigerian economy, being the largest contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2020 sought more Nigerian youths in agriculture to diversify the nation’s economy and end the overreliance on oil.
However, one key factor that scares off people from farming is the fate that befell the likes of Abdullahi Ibrahim, who, despite his several efforts to get good produce was confronted with a much bigger problem, beyond what he could control – Bad roads network.
How bad roads are hindering economic growth in Baruteen
Baruteen local government area in Kwara State has an estimated population of 108, 569 inhabitants – predominantly farmers – with several tribes such as Baruba, Yoruba, Hausa, and Fulani. The local shares border with the Republic of Benin and comprise numerous towns and villages, including Gwanara, Yawoji, Zume Buran, Kemanji, Moshe, Sumaji, Tori Gandu, Tungan Sabi, and Ilesha.
With a landmass of 9,749 square kilometers, agriculture is the economic centrepiece of the people of Baruten with crops such as yam, maize, and cashew grown in substantially larger quantities.
Interviews with several farmers and residents in communities within Ilesha-Gwanara, one of the two state’s constituencies in Baruteen Local Government Area, visited by The Informant247 showed that their experiences on bad roads were similar.
A few months ago, the road network challenge, according to the farmers, had been making it difficult for farmers to transport their produce to the urban centres because of the bad roads. They lamented that many of their produce perished on their farms as there were no vehicles to transport them in large quantity to towns.
Al Hassan Abubakar, a farmer in Kpakotoru community said the condition of the roads had hindered economic development, adding that residents, especially drivers and motorcyclists plying the roads usually faced hardship.
“It is serious trouble traveling on the roads. A journey of 25minuites takes over an hour because of the state of the road. We are farmers here. I have more than enough for me and my family to eat, but transporting to the outside states to sell and make money is a big issue. Due to the state of the road, many truck drivers have refused to render their services to us. We are losing so much.”
Also reacting to the neglect of the roads, Yusuf Abubakar, a maize farmer in Babane, stated that the grading of the road will aid the transportation of food crops to urban centres.
Abubakar said, “The governments before now abandoned the roads. For years, we wanted them back in good shape. We suffered. Farmers find it difficult to move their produce to town. We beg the then government to intervene, but they only come during elections to blow us lies.”
For Musa Ibrahim, a driver who plies the Bode to Babane road, he said, “I can tell you that the road is terrible. The previous government keeps telling us not to worry that they will fix it, yet they haven’t done anything about it. Whenever I’m called to take products, I am usually sad because of the condition of the roads.
“My colleagues had, before now, stopped using this road. Many of them complained that a journey that was supposed to take less than 25 minutes would take over an hour, and it just becomes so stressful. The truth is that one has to be an expert driver to be able to maneuver on the roads.
The statements by these farmers simply put in perspective the remarkable impact that a reliable and efficient transport system has on the agricultural sector, which is, quite simply, taking agricultural products from the point of production to the point of demand.
Water scarcity
The communities in Baruteen were not only confronted with bad roads by also water scarcity.
Most of the communities lack pipe-borne or any other source of potable water supply. Many walks several kilometers in search of water while others depend on polluted water from ponds, streams, rainwater, and floods for domestic use.
“The only source of water I knew was the stream and well, which is very far from my house,” a youth in Bode Babane, who simply identified himself as Mustapha, said.
“The only hand-pump borehole water we have is only accessible to a few people. And we still have to make payment. If we can’t pay N20 per keg, then I will have to go to stream far away to get water, especially during the dry season.
Corroborating Mustapha’s story, Ganiyu Ambali stated, “The people in charge of the hand-pump borehole request that we pay N20 per keg. They said the money was meant for maintenance and repair, should in case the machine becomes faulty and breakdown. It was not easy for us.”
The Danladi’s intervention
One could feel the excitement in the air, see the smiles on their faces, and hear their laughter as the big bulldozers used its steel blade to move earth, thereby grading and expanding the road was at one time the nightmare of the people in Ilesha.
“I didn’t need to talk about his strides. It is what you can see yourself. You can also see how the community welcomed him. Our major problem is road and he is resolving it. The journey of an hour is now reduced to 25mins. We are very happy about this. Danladi is our man and by God’s grace we will mobilize for him in the coming elections,” said Alhassan Abubakar, a middle-aged man in Gogenkparu Bode, with excitement written all over his face as he carefully responds to The Informant247 question and simultaneously watches in awe the big machine working on the Bode to Babane road.
For youthful Yusuf Abubakar, he said, “Indeed, the speaker is a man of integrity, we have never seen this kind of developmental stride before. He provides us with social amenities. He helped us with water. It was very difficult traveling to other neigbouring communities before. People of my age have never seen bulldozers before, but now, here it is before us… working on our road. Honestly, I don’t know what else to say about the speaker. He is just our man… a man of the people.”
Further findings show that the roads already graded by the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, who represents Ilesha/Gwanara State Constituency, include Gwanara to Bukuro (53 km), Damera junction to Gbabe (17km), Bdoayiki to Seni junction (42km), Seni Junction to Kubure (16km), Damera junction to Nigrume (11km), and Gwanara to Nigrumebypass (2km).
Others are Gwanara to Gbo (5km), Gwanara Township (3km), Ago to Wonkoru (4.5km), Gorobani to Mundro (10km), Ilesha Township (3.5km), and Ilesha to Bode (18km).
The grading of the roads will enable agriculture and emboldens the farmer to invest more and increase production, the residents said, adding that with the efficient transport system already created, the farmers will get the best possible returns.
Aside from the road project, the provision of potable water supply is also one of the various interventions in Ilesha- Gwanara constituency by the Speaker under his self-sponsored projects.
AbdulKareem Zainab, an indigene of Babane said, “Before Hon. Danladi came to our rescue, we have no access to safe drinking water. Our only source of water supply as well and streams which is even very far away. We really appreciate the speaker. We don’t know any other person here except the speaker. No politician dares come here to canvass. It is only Danladi’s name that we want to hear because he is the only one that heard our cries.”
For Mustapha, he needs not to pay for water again. He said, “Yes, water now is absolutely free… Not just water, but clean water.”
It was further gathered that the speaker has self-funded the provision of 56 hand-pump boreholes and 3 motorized borehole’s at strategic locations across his constituency.
Electricity, healthcentres, schools: More, more problems
Lack of electricity is joined by the condition of schools and healthcare centres. The Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) at Gogenkparu wore a faded look. The feces of animals that scattered the entrance signal a long time disuse.
Residents told The Informant247 that the health care centre basics relevant facilities. With no bed space, the ceilings and walls are in a deplorable state. The condition of the PHC speaks volumes about why some residents would avoid going there for medical help.
Despite the region’s agricultural prospects, the communities are not connected to the national grid. Residents stated that they have never had electricity.
Combined with no electricity and dysfunctional health care, the only school in Gogenkparu community is also crying for help. The condition of the school can only best be imagined.
Findings revealed that no fewer than 28 solar electrifications have already been procured and installed by Hon. Danladi.
The promise to do more
Danladi, speaking with his constituents on Monday, said, “By December this year, God’s willing, we will connect Bode Babane to the national grid and we will increase access to water by sinking more boreholes, we would also ensure there is telecommunication mast so that our people can have access to the mobile network for ease of communication. I will also ensure that the basic health centre in this ward is fixed as I have done in other parts of my constituency.
“I want to reassure you that the Government of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq would always give priority to People’s interests and welfare unlike the previous government that paid lip service to the welfare of our people”
The Speaker who also promised empowerment for women petty traders in the constituency solicited a concerted effort for the development of Baruten, stressing that it is the only Local Government of Batonu people in the State.
He pledged to donate Jersey, football and other equipment to the community to boost sports development at the grassroots and unearth hidden talent in the youths.
Danladi’s giant strides draw more people to APC
Meanwhile, Danladi’s performance in the last two years has continued to draw more people in Baruteen Local Government to the All Progressive Congress (APC), many describing his performance as “impressive”.
Dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bode Babane Ward on Monday, Abubakar Yakubu, leader of the decampees explained that their reason for defection was because of the positive impression they had about the present government and its commitment to the development of the state.
Danladi, for his part, appreciated the defectors for choosing the ruling party with a promise that they would not regret their choice of the party, stressing that the present government will leave no stone unturned in its developmental agenda for the state.
Relieved community leader
Receiving Hon. Danladi, the village head of Bode town, Alhaji Umar Shero Yakubu acknowledged the many developmental projects of the speaker, describing him as the first politician of Batonu extraction that would have such a great impact on his people.