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Sare Gubu residents call on gov’t to construct 8 KM feeder road 

Jan 12, 2022, 12:47 PM | Article By: Sulayman Waan

The residents of Sare Gubu Basiru village in the Sandu District of the Upper River Region (URR) have called on government to construct the eight kilometers (8 KM) feeder road that links their village to the Laminkoto-Passamas highway to ease transportation of goods and services.

 

The 8-KM feeder road is one of the bumpy roads in the area. It makes movement of people and goods tedious for inhabitants, and hinders development within Sare Gubu village and its satellite settlements.

Therefore, residents have bitterly complained about the poor condition of the road.

 “The poor condition of the feeder road has definitely affected the residents and the satellite villages. Sometimes, we find it difficult to reach the Laminkoto- Pasamas Highway,” Alhagie Sura Bah, village head told The Point exclusively recently.

He said the road is rough and has numerous pot-holes all over, adding residents find it difficult to travel along the road in the rainy season as a result of stagnant water and muddy soil.

 The village head further said many vehicles cannot reach the village in the rainy season due the nature of the road and added that the vehicles have to off-load goods at the Laminkoto- Pasamas highway.

 “So, people will use horse carts to transport their goods from the highway to the village,” he said.

Subsequently,  he called on the government to construct the 8-KM feeder road, saying constructing the road would ensure smooth transportation of goods and services in the area.

Mahamadou Lamin Bah, imam of Sare Gubu Basiru village said the bad condition of the road has led to a series of challenges for the residents. “In the rainy season, some people will find it tedious to go out.”

Imam Bah commended President Barrow and his government for his efforts towards national development. However, he urged the government to build the feeder road that links his village to the tarred road with urgency in order to improve their living standard.

Salif Bah, a shopkeeper said: “Government should construct this road for us because we are suffering, especially in the rainy season. “No vehicle can reach the village in the rainy season due to its bad condition.”

“Whenever I want goods, I have to use a motor bike or a horse cart to transport the goods to my shop. This is horrible.”

 He argued that governments had marginalised the village for many years and justified that they lacked many social amenities such as good roads, electricity and network.

“These means the government has marginalised us. However, when politics comes they will remember us and come because we have voter cards but immediately after elections they will forget us again,” he said.

Haja Juma Bah, women leader, complained bitterly about the poor condition of the road. She said pregnant women often give birth on the way before reaching health facilities as a result of the poor feeder roads.

“Sometimes, our sick people die on the way before reaching healthcare facilities. The consequences of these bad roads to us cannot be over emphasised,” she expressed sadly.

She said building the road would greatly help in saving women’s lives in the area.

Mahamadou Barry, driver for the community ambulance provided by the government, said there is a greater need for the government to construct the feeder road before the rainy season comes. He said, if the road is not constructed it easily leads to the breakdown of the ambulance.