By SAM ADZEGEH –
Two major developments have, in the past five weeks or so, elicited much excitement in Agber, a settlement eastward on the outskirts of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
The resumption of construction work on a drainage canal, a federal government project being executed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the continued vandalization and looting of the north – east railway line which passes through Makurdi authorized by exactly which agency no body appears to know, are currently major points of discussion in the community of about 30,000 people, mostly youth.
The lack of an effective drainage system in the sprawling settlement has for long caused much sorrow and lamentation with residents dreading the approach of the rainy season each year.
The prayers of the residents appeared to have been answered in 2017 when Phase 1 of the contract for the construction of the drainage canal was awarded by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
The first phase of the work was completed more than three years ago, but the second phase was abandoned more than a year later, throwing the community into anxiety.
Work however resumed on the project some weeks ago, causing much joy and excitement in the community.
The joy in the community is understood, given the sleepy nature of the community where drinking illicit gin (ogogoro) usually is the only pastime of the mostly jobless youth.
Resumption of work on the canal has brought relief to the community as more than half of the youth and other residents are actively involved in the construction work on the project.
This reporter observed that a mini market has already sprung up and is fast growing on the banks of the canal.
Agber is located about ten kilometers alongside the railway track running from Makurdi to Otukpo and further east to Enugu, where it is currently being vandalized by jobless youth impoverished by the harsh economic policies of government, as earlier reported by this reporter.
The massive removal of railway tracks on the north – east railway line has raised concerns on the legality of otherwise of the operation.
It has been previously reported that tens of kilometers of railway tracks have been forcefully removed on the route, thus effectively cutting off the railway link between the northern and southern parts of the country on this axis.
Investigations by this writer could not uncover on whose orders the railway operation is being carried out, but rumours are strong that it is on the orders of Vice President Yemi Osinlbajo, who is widely believed to have bought the Nigeria Railway Corporation.
