By Abdulqadir Muhammad Alhaji
Residents of Lushi, a historic community located behind General Hassan Usman Katsina Unity College in Bauchi metropolis, have appealed to the Bauchi State Government to address what they describe as decades of neglect, citing poor road infrastructure, inadequate access to potable water, and limited healthcare facilities.
The District Head of Yalwa, Abdurasheed Adamu Sambo, said Lushi is a century-old settlement with a rich history but remains cut off from key developments despite its proximity to major parts of Bauchi city, including the old airport area, Yelwa and Gwallaga.
According to him, the deteriorating condition of access roads into the community has become one of the biggest obstacles to its development and integration into the expanding state capital.
He said residents face severe difficulties during the rainy season when floodwaters and mud render the roads nearly impassable.
“In some cases, when a resident falls ill, people have to carry the patient on foot across the flooded sections before they can access transportation to a hospital, even though the community is less than two kilometres from the city,” he said.
Sambo also highlighted the persistent shortage of potable water, noting that many residents are forced to search for water during the night due to inadequate supply.
He appealed to the state government to intervene and improve living conditions in the area.
The Village Head of Lushi, Muhammad Danlami, described the road network as the community’s most pressing challenge, saying it continues to hinder access to healthcare services, especially during emergencies.
Despite the community’s closeness to Yelwa and other urban areas of Bauchi, he said residents often struggle to transport sick people to medical facilities because of the poor condition of the roads.
Danlami also expressed concern over the shortage of classrooms in the community’s school, calling on the government to construct additional classroom blocks to accommodate the growing number of pupils.
He further appealed for the establishment of a maternal and child healthcare centre, saying residents of Lushi and neighbouring communities face significant difficulties accessing basic healthcare services.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the District Head of Yalwa, Muhammad Yalwa Lushi, commended the government for providing a school in the community but noted that enrolment has outgrown the available infrastructure.
He said the road situation remains a major concern, adding that residents become anxious whenever heavy rains occur because of the difficulties associated with movement in and out of the area.
A resident, Ibrahim Lushi, said the poor state of the roads has made transportation difficult, particularly during the rainy season.
According to him, some residents are sometimes unable to return home at night after rainfall because of the condition of the access routes.
Another resident, Rabi’atu Isma’il, raised concerns about the lack of potable water, stating that many of the boreholes in the community are no longer functional, while traditional wells dry up shortly after the rainy season.
She added that commercial drivers and other road users often avoid entering the community because of the poor condition of the roads.
Maimuna Yusuf Lushi also described water shortages, poor roads and inadequate healthcare services as long-standing challenges affecting residents.
Similarly, Habibah Gambo said the road problem has persisted for decades.
She recalled that since her marriage into the community in 1989, residents have continued to grapple with poor road access, a situation she said has slowed development and limited economic opportunities.
The residents collectively called on the Bauchi State Government and relevant authorities to prioritise the provision of basic infrastructure, including roads, water supply, healthcare facilities and educational infrastructure, to improve the living conditions of people in the community.
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