• How Kebbi community contends with darkness, bad road, others
From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
Jantulu-kare community in Arewa Local Government, Kebbi State, is one of the thriving communities in Argungu Emirate Council. Located some 30 kilometers from Yeldu town, the ancient agrarian community is also a border town with Niger Republic and boasts of migration from other parts of the West African sub region . But that is where the story ends.
In the past years, not only did the community retire too early in the day, just before twilight due to the absence of electricity, its commercial and social life was nothing to be excited about for the same reason of absence of light.
Except for the occasional flashes of moonlight on its monthly trip, the community, disconnected from the national grid, lived in darkness and utter agony. In the face of this trauma, they had cried to everyone in high places at the state and federal levels, but got no concrete answers as to the way forward
But on September 17, 2019, a 90KV solar plant constructed by the Rural Electricity Agency of the state was commissioned by the immediate past Governor of the state, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu. This project became a great relief and a reason to smile at a time of need.
While speaking with Daily Sun, Attairu Ahmed, who switched on to solar energy following the commissioning of the plant, explained that he has been relying on the solar energy to power in the last four years
He explained that since he resorted to solar energy, he has had no reason to regret as he had served his customers better and more efficiently, completing their work right on time.
According to him, “I usually recharge with N3,000 monthly and certainly I am not complaining. There is no power failure with solar as long as you recharge your meter.
“All over this town, we are all using solar. Each household and building in this town has their electrical poles attached to their computerized meters.
“Even, if they decided to link us up to the national grid, I will not join them because they will start sending us crazy bills or as the case maybe, they will supply us with erratic power that will undermine my business” he stressed.
“Solar power is stable and if I don’t have anything or work to do in my workshop, I switch it off. That way, my units are saved” he stated while observing that many artisans in the community have switched to solar energy in order to survive” he stated.
Similarly, a soft drink seller in the town, Sani Yakub said he has been using the solar energy to refrigerate all his drinks for the past four years without failure.
“I can tell you (Gaskia) ,we are enjoying this solar energy. We are recharging our meter by ourselves and no crazy bill every month. You consumed the units you bought. So, there is no cheating between the company and we, the consumers”.
Speaking to Daily Sun, an elder in Jantulu-Kare community, Samaila Awazaka stressed that the use of solar system has brought relief to the community.
According to him, “We are enjoying it. I can charge my phone anytime I wish, listen to my radio and television wherever I wish. In fact, the community is even planning to extend the service of the solar plant to nearby villages under Kare District Head.
A community leader, Usman Muhammed Anache revealed that the community is now enjoying their solar system.
“The logic here is very simple. If the community could survive without electricity supply from national grid, that means that if there is an alternative way to the pressing road issue before them, they would have addressed it in the same manner” he stated.
Daily Sun gathered that although Jantulu-Kare community has maneuvered their way out of the electricity issue, the bag road remained a big challenge.
Driving to the community is the beginning of a nightmare. The roads are dusty, uneven and broken, said Mustapha, a resident of Kebbi community.
Eight years ago, it was gathered that a contract was awarded for the construction of all roads within the local government area. But the contractor abandoned the work at Yeldu town, ignoring Kare’s angle of the contract.
One of those who easily recalls the difficulties traveling this bad road is Mohammed Aruguugu, a local trader in Dadinkowa market. He travels the road to the market on a regular basis but has never failed to tell the world his sad experiences. Many a times he ends up, after each trip, tired and broken.
Another set of travelers affected by the road is the truck drivers who supply bulk items to the market at a great cost. None of them has a good word for the bad roads.
It is against this background that the community is crying out to the new administration over the state of the road.
According to Usman Muhammed Anache, “We are appealing to the State Government under this new Governor, Nasir Idris to reconsider this road, look into the reason the road was abandoned about eight years ago and let the contractor returned to the site and complete it.
“This will certainly improve the socio- economy activities of this town and the entire Local Government Area,” he added.
