Yobe in Crisis: Floods Isolate Seven LGAs from State Capital

 

A major flood has severed the Potiskum-Gashua federal road in Yobe State, cutting off six local government areas in northern Yobe from accessing Damaturu, the state capital.

The flooding, which occurred on Tuesday, August 28, 2024, was triggered by a heavy flow of water from the Jama’are River in Bauchi State.

The affected local government areas include Jakusko, Bade, Karasuwa, Nguru, Yusufari, and Machina.

As a result, residents are now forced to take alternative routes through the Bayamari-Dapchi road, which is plagued by a poor road network, or detour through Hadejia in Jigawa State.

Samaila Musa, Chairman of Nangere Local Government Area, who visited the site of the flood damage, expressed concerns over the impact on the local economy, particularly on agricultural and commercial activities.

“I visited the road that was cut off, and it has already started affecting our economic and agricultural activities, especially those that will be coming to the livestock market in Potiskum. I am on my way to meet the Deputy Governor and inform him of the situation,” said Musa.

The incident has severely disrupted travel and the movement of goods, particularly affecting those commuting to the Potiskum livestock market, one of the region’s key economic hubs.

Efforts to reach the Controller of the Federal Ministry of Works for comments were unsuccessful, as his phone number was not reachable.

Local engineers have called on the federal government to construct a mini bridge in the affected area to prevent the annual washing away of the road by floodwaters, a recurring problem that disrupts connectivity and economic activities in the region.

The current situation underscores the urgent need for infrastructural improvements to mitigate the impacts of seasonal flooding on essential road networks in Yobe State.