Agbafo Ijeoma
Residents of Dutse Baupma in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to the authorities to provide functional street lights and access roads to improve security and ease movement within the community.
It was explained that the lack of basic infrastructure was affecting their safety and economic activities. The residents said several major streets remained dark at night, while some existing street light poles were no longer functional.
A farmer, Samson Barde, mention that the darkness created opportunities for criminal activities, urging the authorities to provide adequate lighting to enable residents to feel safer and monitor movements within the area.
Another resident, Bitrus Habila, said functional street lights would help residents keep watch over their surroundings at night and discourage criminal activities.
Similarly, a trader, Deborah Saleh, said the absence of lighting affected businesses, as she was forced to close her shop around 6 p.m. despite wanting to operate later into the evening. The community leader, John Kuyambana, also called for urgent intervention to address the infrastructure challenges facing the area.
He appealed for the construction of access roads to ease transportation and support economic activities, while also requesting a pedestrian bridge at Tiber Junction to reduce accidents involving pedestrians. Kuyambana said an average of three accidents occurred weekly at the junction, with vehicles sometimes losing their brakes and crashing into pedestrians attempting to cross the road.
He appealed to the authorities to prioritise the construction of the pedestrian bridge, stressing that it would help protect lives, while improved access roads and street lighting would enhance movement, security and economic activities in the community.
