The Taraba state government had mobilised contractors that would rehabilitate aportion of the almost cut-off road at
Likitaba, linking Ngoroje to Gembu, which harbours the Mambilla Hydro
Electric Power project.
Alhaji
Hassan Mijinyawa, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Darius Ishaku of
Taraba told newsmen on Friday that the governor had taken steps to
prevent the eminent danger posed by the landslide.
Mijinyawa
said that though the affected area was a Federal Government road, the
state government had to intervene given its economic importance to the
state and the nation.
“Gov.
Ishaku has to quickly intervene in order to prevent the road from going
into a complete deplorable state given the economic importance of the
Mambilla plateau to the state and the nation.
“Waiting
on the Federal Government will lead to further damage to the road and
bring more sufferings to the its users and the entire people of the
Mambilla plateau,” he said.
The
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the contractors had begun to
construct embankments that would put a stop to the landslide.
Mr Nuriggine Zreoure, the Site Engineer, PW Construction
Company Limited, said the landslide was caused by an earth dam located
around the area.
He explained that the landslide started 50 metres away from the road before it gradually began to affect it.
He stressed that his workers had dug and sand filled the slope caused by the landslide to guide against future recurrence.
According to him, work on the affected portion of the
road which spanned about 100 metres in length will be completed by Nov.
30.
Reacting
to the development, Alhaji Hassan Aliyu, the Vice -Chairman of Sardauna
Local Government Council, said the portion was becoming a death trap
for the people of the area.
He
called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the Mambilla
Hydro Electric Power dam in order to light up Nigeria and create jobs
for the youths.
Alhaji
Jouro Umar, the village head of Likitaba community said three vehicles
had accidents at the affected portion before the commencement of the
repairs.
He commended the governor for his quick intervention to rescue the people from the danger posed by the landslide along the road.
