No fewer than 70 communities in Gwagwalada area council have been reconnected to other parts following the successful completion of the Paikon Kore-Ibwa Road.
The villages situated between Paikonkore and Ibwa communities were reportedly cut off from other parts of the territory, due to the deplorable road and a dilapidated link bridge connecting both communities.
However, the story has changed with construction of a 9km access road, funded by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
The FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, had in February, 2024, flagged off the construction of the 9km road project with a directive to the contractor to ensure timely completion of the work.
Residents of benefiting communities, who are predominantly farmers, say the road construction has not only opened up their communities, but also helped boost their livelihoods as they can now move their farm produce to markets across the FCT.
The Community Liaison Officer on the project, Ibrahim Maikeri, told journalists who were in the communities to get feedback on the project impact, that over 70 communities along that road stretch have been positively impacted by the road construction.
He said the Paikonkore-Ibwa Road had long been neglected after it was first constructed over 5 decades ago, thereby making it difficult for farmers to sell their products outside Paikonkore due to the deplorable state of the road.
“This road has been in existence even before the creation of FCT, around 1976, but there had been no other maintenance since then and that’s why it was in a deplorable state until it was reconstructed.
“As you can see, the state of the road has actually changed. The road was changed because of God Almighty, and because of honourable minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, who has deemed it fit to bring this project down to Gwagwalada, and not only Gwagwalada, but to remember the people of Paikonkore and Ibua community.
“For decades, the road had actually affected the lives of the people here. We were finding it difficult to transport our farm produce to the city centre, especially Gwagwalada and its environs. But with the construction of Paiko to Ibwa road, it will enhance interaction between communities and help us in bringing down our farm produce to the markets. It will also help address some of the security challenges we face in the community.”
While also appreciating the FCT administration for ensuring that the bridge linking both communities was properly reconstructed, Maikeri stated that students from the communities can now easily attend schools in neighbouring villages.
Wike links 70 Abuja communities with 9km roads- Official
