The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to construct rural roads connecting communities in the North-East geopolitical zones.

According to the House, the bad state of roads in and around Sambisa Forest, the enclave of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West African Province, make it difficult for security forces to go after insurgents when they attack neighbouring communities.

The House made the call at the plenary on Tuesday, following the adoption of a motion entitled, ‘Need to Open Up Rural Roads to Connect Communities that are Frequently Attacked by Boko Haram Insurgents in Local Government Areas Contiguous to the Sambisa Forest.’

Consequently, the House resolved to “urge the North East Development Commission, in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Defence through the Army Engineering Corps to, as a matter of urgency commence the construction of rural roads connecting all the communities.”

Moving the motion, Haruna Mshelia, noted that several communities consisting of towns, villages and hamlets, including Tashan Allade, Kirmi, Garbwala, Debiro, Tarfa, Mandiragraw, Harang, Ngulde, Ngohi, Mbula Kudughe, Chanchandana, Lehu, Askira, Bigibigi and Garkida, situated in the very fertile region of Hawul, Askira/Uba, Biu and Gombi Local Government Areas of the state do not have interconnected rural roads linking each other.

Mshelia said, “All these communities were at one time or the other several times attacked by Boko Haram insurgents, but because of the resilience of the people, they are still living in such communities.

The road infrastructure, which is dearly needed to link and open up the communities to access the huge agricultural produce coming from the region yearly, are not in place, thus cutting the communities.“The House is worried that due to the proximity of these communities to the infamous Sambisa Forest, the lack of these basic infrastructure means that whenever Boko Haram attacks, even security forces find it difficult to easily navigate the area in pursuit of the insurgents.

“It is the responsibility of government to provide such basic infrastructure in communities such as those unfortunate towns, villages and hamlets that are close to the Sambisa Forest.

“The House is cognisant that provision of good rural roads with culverts and military-type bridges will go a long way in mitigating the security challenges in the area and further boost agricultural output from those areas.”