Michael AndeyinAs predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in February, rain is expected to start later than usual in Plateau and seven northern states. Residents of Takkas, a rural community in Plateau’s Pankshin Local Government Area (LGA), are worried.
Takkas residents have been battling terrible roads for years, and when the rainy season starts, accompanied by flooding, movement becomes difficult on the road.
According to an X post shared by Tracka on Tuesday, the road was graded in 2024, but no drainages were constructed, and the bridge that leads to the community was left abandoned.
Tracka is a community of active citizens who track the implementation of government projects, participate in the governance process and advocate for development in their communities.
Without these structures, residents fear the usual flooding of their homes and farmlands. When the bridge at Takkas is submerged during the rainy season, the community is trapped as residents are unable to leave or enter the area.
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“During the rainy season, homes get flooded and the road is practically unusable. Even after the road was graded in 2024, drainages were not constructed and the bridge was not done. Hence, the same cry of home and farm flooding from residents. They get trapped in their homes, or outside their homes, depending on where they are at the time of the rain,” wrote Tracka on X.
“The makeshift bridge in Takkas community was built in 1929. 96 years and a few patches later, Takkas is still using this makeshift bridge,” it added.
A bridge older than Nigeria herself?🤔Dear Gov @CalebMutfwang, Sen @diketplang_, Hon @YusufAdamuGagdi,Over 3000 residents of Takkas community in Pankshin LGA of Plateau state, have been struggling with terrible roads for the past 9 decades. This has obstructed economic… pic.twitter.com/jlD743o3o9— Tracka (@TrackaNG) March 4, 2025
In 2024, the Federal Government allocated N200 million for the grading of some rural roads in Plateau Central, as well as for the construction and furnishing of the Takkas traditional ruler’s palace and cultural arena.
FIJ learnt that during the grading of the roads, which was facilitated by Diket Plang, the senator representing Plateau Central in the National Assembly, the contractors did not work on the bridge.
A source who does not want to be named told FIJ that an elderly member of the village nearly lost his life when the bridge was submerged in floodwaters in 2024.
Flooding in the area can last for three to four days at a time, forcing residents to remain indoors during this period.
“When the grading was done, they stopped before the bridge. Then they went ahead after the bridge to finish up the grading,” FIJ’s source explained.
Takkas. Photo Source: Tracka.
Takkas. Photo Source: Tracka.
Takkas. Photo Source: Tracka.
FIJ found a Facebook post dated January 3, in which the flag-off of the grading of Gohotfwan-Kadung and Takkas-Dungkwak roads by Senator Plang was announced.
The post about the grading of Gohotfwan-Kadung and Takkas-Dungkwak roads on Facebook.
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For thousands of residents of this Plateau community, their lives, property and means of livelihood remain at risk until a modern bridge is constructed.
FIJ’s source disclosed that while the bridge has undergone some repairs, it is insufficient due to the rising frequency of flooding in the area.
“More than 20 commercial motorcyclists were stranded in the village last year during the rainy season. They had to spend the night there, waiting for the floodwaters on the bridge to reduce,” they said.
Inside the 2024 FG’s Budget
A review of the 2024 budget for the FG’s consolidated capital projects for Plateau reveals that N100 million was budgeted for the grading of selected rural roads in Plateau Central Senatorial District.
Another N100 million was allocated for the construction and furnishing of the Takkas traditional ruler’s palace and cultural arena.
A screenshot of the two projects in the budget highlighted.
The government agency in charge of these projects is the National Productivity Centre, while the overseeing ministry is the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Plateau Central’s Senator Plang is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Employment and Productivity.
Abimbola Abatta is a reporter with FIJ, writing reports in partnership with Report for the World which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.
The post Plateau’s 96-Year-Old Takkas Bridge Remains Fragile Despite FG’s N200m Allocation in 2024 appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.
