Flood threatens Plateau community

FLOOD caused by heavy rainfall is threatening to cut off Piapun community in Mikang Council Area of Plateau State from other parts of the state, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Already, the bridge on Mbep-Piapun road, which linked the community with Shendam town and the rest of the state, is on the verge of being washed away by the flood.

Mr. Daniel Nanlong, representing Mikang Constituency in the Plateau House of Assembly, yesterday appealed to the state government for immediate intervention “before the situation gets worse.”
Nanlong, who conducted newsmen round the affected areas, said the bridge was no longer safe for use by vehicles.

“The only culvert sustaining the road is about to be cut off; if that happens, no vehicle will go to or come out of Piapun because it is the only road linking the community. Ten years ago the situation was not as bad as it is today and it is getting worse everyday. If something urgent is not done, the agrarian community would be cut off from the rest of the state,” he said.

According to him, the construction of the road was included in the 2007 budget of the state but nothing was done at the time.

The lawmaker appealed to the state government to also consider the construction of Lifidi-Piapun-Garkawa-Tunkus road, to link all the four districts of the council.

Nanlong said that when constructed, the road would boost social and economic activities in the area.

“The road will make all the districts in the local government accessible, farmers will be able to transport their produce to the markets without any hitches and that will boost their economic status.”

“We pray that the road will be captured in this year’s budget and necessary action will follow so that the people will heave a sigh of relief,” he said.