By SAM ADZEGEH –
Residents of Agber, a community in Makurdi, capital of Benue State erupted into a frenzy of joyful activity as work has intensified on the drainage canal being constructed behind the settlement.
The lack of an effective drainage system in the sprawling settlement of more than ten thousand inhabitants 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 a year later, throwing the community into anxiety.
Work however resumed on the project about two 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 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 Enough, where it is currently being vandalized by jobless youth impoverished by the harsh economic policies of government, as earlier reported by this reporter.
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