Residents in Kubwa Allegedly Pay N10 Million for Road Repairs Amid Government Neglect
Commercial motorcyclists and residents of Byazhin, Kubwa, a town in the Bwari Area Council of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have reportedly contributed nearly N10 million for road repairs between July and September 2023 due to alleged government neglect, according to a report by IJEOMA OPARA.
Every morning, a group of about 12 women, known as the “Able Women,” gather in the Byazhin area of Kubwa wearing matching T-shirts branded “Able Women” to repair potholes on roads using a mixture of cement, granite, and other materials.
During the period mentioned, the women employed laborers to work on potholes at Liberty Junction, a popular crossroads in Byazhin. They strategically positioned themselves along different lanes leading to the crossroads, requesting donations from motorists to support the road repair efforts.
While private motorists often voluntarily donated money, commercial motorcyclists and tricycle operators were reportedly asked to pay a daily fee of N50, enforced through the issuance of tickets. The women, sometimes with the assistance of a security group called the “Special Squad Vigilante,” were said to have partially blocked roads to demand payments, occasionally resulting in traffic build-ups and confrontations with drivers.
The total amount reportedly collected by the Able Women between July and September 2023 from commercial motorcyclists and tricycle operators alone was estimated to be nearly N10 million, excluding donations from private motorists and residents.
The head of the group, Bola Shitta, stated that the repairs at Liberty Junction cost about N7 million, leaving an excess of nearly N3 million. However, a Quantity Surveyor estimated the cost of the repairs to be around N3.7 million, leaving a significant surplus.
The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) stated that it had not awarded any contracts for the rehabilitation of the road at Liberty Junction, raising questions about the responsibility for maintaining public infrastructure.
While the activities of the Able Women may not be illegal under Nigerian law, legal experts have emphasized the need for citizens to obtain approval from the government before undertaking road repairs. Some have also raised concerns about the potential infringement on the freedom of movement due to the roadblocks and forced payments.
The ICIR
