Towards Dead End of Benue State Urban Development Board
The discipline of the military is what is lacking in the current democratic dispensation in Nigeria. That orderliness of activities like personal hygiene will be missed by those of us who lived in those times. These were times between the 1960s running through the 70s, 80s and the 1990s. This editorial piece is not aimed to justify the many high-handedness of the military juntas in Nigeria. I am speaking of issues of discipline and orderliness.
Following the creation of Benue State in 1976, from Benue-Plateau State, Makurdi became the state capital. The plan for a modern town was consumed; housing was planned, separating residential houses from schools, hospitals, markets, motor parks, recreational facilities and many others. One can appreciate the plan for Modern Market, Wadata Market and Northbank Market. One can also appreciate the siting of schools like the pioneer Government College Makurdi and Saint Gabriel’s Secondary School along what became the School Lane.
The recreational centres were quite unique in places like Kenville Park, what is now Woodland Park, City Bay Park and Mac-Apha Park etc.
You can access streets like Adikpo Street, Ikeja Street, Bauchi Street, Konshisha Street, Vandeikya Street, Iorkyaa Ako Street, Ugbokolo Street and Awe Street. Major roads in town like Jonah Jang Crescent, Barracks Road, Iyorchia Ayu Road, Ishaya Bakut Road and Atom Kpera Road etc. These were strategically planned to beautify the town.
Then enter the misdirection and corruption at the Benue State Urban Development Board and the rest is history. The government Agency mandated to plan and enforce the beautification of Makurdi town is therefore compromised. Residents now decide where and what to developed without due process. You can relate with places like Logo I and Logo II, Akpehe, Genabe, Adeke, Achussah, Welfare Quarters, Kanshio, Yaikyo and other settlements in the capital city. Were these layouts planned by the Urban Development Board? The answer can be shaped from the Nyorgyungu -Customary Court Road constructed in the Ortom era and the Okada street linking Abu King Shuluwa Road just constructed by the Hyacinth Alia government. These are clear cases of neglect defacing the town by developers in conjunction with the UDB.
In almost every case under construction, you would see the inscription boldly written in red; signifying danger – “Stop: UDB.” Then the greasing of palms happens and boom, you have a new development, not minding whether it is legally or illegally constructed.
The unplanned city has led to blockade of water ways and drainage channels. Where the channels exist, they have become dump sites. The blocked water channels are not cleared, which has resulted in man-made flooding in residential homes across the state capital. This has made Makurdi town an eyesore during and after a downpour. Vandeikya Street, connecting Ishaya Bakut Road is one hell of example.
Some homes have become farmlands for residents in the heart of the town, not to mention uncleared streets grown with bushes and refuse dumps.
Unfortunately, every last Saturday of the month is tagged “Sanitation Day,” exercised from 7: am to 9:am, when it is expected that residents will stay back and clear their surroundings. The residents blame the UDB for failing to provide the necessary tools and lead for a clean environment. The UDB in defence says it is handicapped in the area of personnel and logistics. What a dead end!
Recently, I followed the enforcement for the demolition of shanties by the Ter Mede led UDB. I interpreted it as the political will from the Executive Governor, Hyacinth Alia. And, I hope the development will be sustained to address the decades of neglect and compromise from this all important Agency- UDB. If this happens, good for Makurdians. If not, I suggest the Urban Development Board be scrapped to cut down the cost of governance.
