The Bassa-Nge Community Development Network has issued a passionate appeal to key political leaders in Kogi State and the Federal Government, calling for urgent intervention in the rehabilitation of the Shintaku–Oguma Road, which they described as “beyond deplorable”.
In an open letter addressed to Governor Usman Ododo, Senator Jibril Isah Echocho of Kogi East, and Paul Gowom, representing Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency, the group lamented the devastating impact of the road’s condition on the daily lives of the Bassa-Nge people and surrounding communities.
According to the letter signed by Joseph Emmanuel Yaba, President of the Bassa-Nge Community Development Network, the Shintaku–Oguma Road serves as a critical economic and social link connecting Bassa Local Government Area to the rest of the state.
He noted that years of neglect have rendered the road nearly impassable, particularly during the rainy season.
The group listed several consequences of the road’s deterioration, including delays in accessing healthcare, especially for pregnant women and the sick, and economic losses for farmers who are unable to transport their produce.
He added that due to the bad road network, it has led to rising transportation costs and damaged vehicles forcing drivers off the route; and has further increased insecurity due to poor accessibility and isolation.
While acknowledging the efforts of the government in addressing inherited infrastructural challenges, the Bassa-Nge leaders emphasized that the Shintaku–Oguma Road has become a symbol of long-standing neglect that must no longer be ignored.
According to the group “We appeal to you, in the spirit of equity and good governance, to prioritize the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Shintaku–Oguma Road. The time has come for Bassa-Nge people to feel the impact of governance and inclusion in developmental strides.”;
The group expressed confidence in the ability of the current administration to respond with decisive action, stating that history would remember them as the ones who reconnected Bassa and renewed the hope of their people with shared prosperity and progress.
