How Gbagi women took up road repairs in Abuja

By Emmanuel Odunze

The saying ‘what a man can do, a woman can do better’ is the case in Byazhin, a road located in Kubwa, Bwari Local Government Area of the Fct.

The road which had been neglected for years despite the numerous clarion call on the Fct administration by the residents, became a responsibility of some women of the area who took it upon themselves to fix it.

This women who call themselves “Volunteers” have dedicated their time and energy and have pledged to be there every day until the road completion is achieved. They come out early in the morning hours to collect contributions from motorists and other road users and they can be seen up to 6pm still controlling traffic and supervising repairs on the road before they return to cater for their various families .

On a visit to the site, some labourers could be seen on with cement and other road repair materials, under close supervision of the women numbering about ten. Information gathered reveals that the keke owners we’re mandated to pay Fifty Naira, while other road users or private vehicle owners were expected to give a freewill donation on daily basis to make the work on the road yield result.

One of the women (volunteer) who gave her name as Grace, said that over time residents of the area had contributed huge sums to the repair of the road to their male counterparts, but the road was neither repaired nor the money accounted for. Hence the women had to come together to take the responsibility of repairing the road even though the residents had some sought of ambiguity at first concerning the genuineness of the women in taking up the responsibility due to the fact that funds had been donated several times for the said road but the project ended in a fiasco.

Another volunteer who gave her name as Mercy, said that on several occasions they had written several letters through their council representatives to the Fct administration, soliciting for their support in repairing the road but all efforts to get a tangible response seem to hit the rock.

One of the residents who spoke to our correspondent, Francis, could not hide his amazement at how tremendous work is being done on the road under the supervision of the women . “This is one of the most amazing thing I have seen in a while” he said. “I know the efforts we the residents have put in trying to cover some of the terrible spots on this road but it proved abortive and it’s so unfortunate that my male counter parts and the Fct administration have failed woefully in handling of this road issue.”

Dorathy, a resident said “At first it was unbelievable because those in charge were all women but to my amazement, work is fast progressing on the road and we are all excited and amazed at the good work this women are doing.”

One of the women leader also said that they are not in a hurry to leave the road site until some of the very bad spots are closed up. She said the road has made life very uncomfortable for residents coupled with hike in price fare due to the bad nature of the road. She solicited for the support of all in restoring the road back to normalcy.

The road which had been neglected for years despite the numerous clarion call on the Fct administration by the residents, became a responsibility of some women of the area who took it upon themselves to fix it.

This women who call themselves “Volunteers” have dedicated their time and energy and have pledged to be there every day until the road completion is achieved. They come out early in the morning hours to collect contributions from motorists and other road users and they can be seen up to 6pm still controlling traffic and supervising repairs on the road before they return to cater for their various families .

On a visit to the site, some labourers could be seen on with cement and other road repair materials, under close supervision of the women numbering about ten. Information gathered reveals that the keke owners we’re mandated to pay Fifty Naira, while other road users or private vehicle owners were expected to give a freewill donation on daily basis to make the work on the road yield result.

One of the women (volunteer) who gave her name as Grace, said that over time residents of the area had contributed huge sums to the repair of the road to their male counterparts, but the road was neither repaired nor the money accounted for. Hence the women had to come together to take the responsibility of repairing the road even though the residents had some sought of ambiguity at first concerning the genuineness of the women in taking up the responsibility due to the fact that funds had been donated several times for the said road but the project ended in a fiasco.

Another volunteer who gave her name as Mercy, said that on several occasions they had written several letters through their council representatives to the Fct administration, soliciting for their support in repairing the road but all efforts to get a tangible response seem to hit the rock.

One of the residents who spoke to our correspondent, Francis, could not hide his amazement at how tremendous work is being done on the road under the supervision of the women . “This is one of the most amazing thing I have seen in a while” he said. “I know the efforts we the residents have put in trying to cover some of the terrible spots on this road but it proved abortive and it’s so unfortunate that my male counter parts and the Fct administration have failed woefully in handling of this road issue.”

Dorathy, a resident said “At first it was unbelievable because those in charge were all women but to my amazement, work is fast progressing on the road and we are all excited and amazed at the good work this women are doing.”

One of the women leader also said that they are not in a hurry to leave the road site until some of the very bad spots are closed up. She said the road has made life very uncomfortable for residents coupled with hike in price fare due to the bad nature of the road. She solicited for the support of all in restoring the road back to normalcy.