Don’t clog our well in road project – Residents beg contractor

Some residents of Shodari community of Kumo town, Akko local government area of Gombe State has appealed to the handlers of a proposed road project from Zadawa-Shodari-Black Market linking Kumo east and Kumo central wards not to clog their well which had been a source of water to the community over the years.

The residents through a group known as ‘ Shodari Farmers Group And Multi-purpose Cooperatives’ made the appeal in a press release signed by their secretary general Babawuro Bala and issued to our correspondent on Wednesday.

He said that the road project was facilitated by the member of the federal house of representatives representing the area Usman Kumo adding that although the community needs the road network, but the well located along it should not be tampered with as many residents fetch water from it.

Our correspondent reports that many areas in Gombe State including the capital city face serious water problems as they rely on water vendors and tanks drivers for supply.

It is also observed that in many parts of the state, there are no the usual water wells as obtained in other states due to desertification and the sandy nature of the soil in the state.

The group therefore expressed fear that if the well is clogged in the course of the road project, the community would experience serious water challenge.

“The Shodari water well (Rijiyan Shodari) is the only source of water for the daily use of the people of the community and the surrounding communities (both Kumo East and Kumo Centre Wards) and has been in
existence and serving their water needs for about 75 years since its construction by the natives.

“It is against this backdrop that this Association appeals to your exalted office to intervene and ensure that the Shodari water well (Rijiyan Shodari) is conserved and not affected by the road construction by reaching out to the stakeholders to pay compensation to the owners of the houses
lying by the west so that the well will be conserved.”, they appealed to the lawmaker.