Agrarian communities in the interior parts of Lokoja local government in Kogi state have called on federal and state governments to come to their aid by constructing roads and a link bridge that will give them easy access to the state capital.
The communities in Kupa North and Kupa South wards of Lokoja LGA are the major producers of grains, especially rice, but have to take the easiest route selling their grains in nearby markets in neighbouring Niger state.
Though in the same local government with Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, residents in these communities have to travel to torturous roads along Aiyetoro Gbede in Ijumu local government to Kabba-Bunu LGA before coming into Lokoja town.
Their spokesperson, Mallam Isiaku Isa Kupa, said the communities are appealing to the Federal and Kogi state governments to construct the roads and bridges leading to the communities in Kupa as a matter of urgency.
Isiaku stated that construction of this road will improve food security in Kogi state and further improve socio economic development of the area.
He specifically called for the construction of Jamata-Budon-Kupa-Eggan roads and bridges that will create an easy passage linking directly to Lokoja town.
”Kupa Rice are produced in very high quantity and transported to a town in Katcha, Niger State, for onward transaction to the northern part of the country. This is because the roads to Lokoja are not accessible. Hence, for lack of good road network, these rice would have been in Kogi State markets.
”With the supply chain of grains, especially rice farming and production in Kupa communities, it is now important that the state government come to the aid of the people, because most of the bags of rice produced are been ferried to Katcha in Niger state.
”Road and bridge construction in these communities is very important. It will serve as vital arteries that it will enable the movement of goods, it will enable goods to be transported quickly and smoothly and it will also allow traders to access markets and consumers,” he said.
Isiaku said the road and bridges linking to Kupa communities will provide access to the areas, linking other rural communities to other markets and improve overall economic development of the state.
