By Rilwan Muhammad and Rabilu Abubakar, Gombe
Residents of Dukku in Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State have raised concerns over the deplorable condition of the road linking their community to the state capital. They are calling on the government to urgently rehabilitate the route, which has become a nightmare for both drivers and passengers.
According to motorists, the journey from Dukku to Gombe, which previously took just 50 minutes, now lasts over two hours due to the poor state of the road. The situation causes fatigue, frustration, and frequent vehicle damage.
The Gombe-Dukku-Darazo road was first constructed in the 1980s and later rehabilitated in the early 2000s. However, residents say it has since been neglected despite serving as a vital corridor for travelers from Adamawa, Taraba, Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, and other states.
Usman Abubakar, a 45-year-old driver with nearly two decades of experience, lamented that the road’s condition forces them to spend heavily on vehicle repairs.
“The road is terribly bad. What used to be a 45-minute trip now takes over two hours. Potholes cover the stretch, especially between Tongoyel, Bojude, and Bozonshulwa. Many times, vehicles are forced to stop mid-journey. Shock absorbers, windscreens, and other parts keep breaking down,” he explained.
He added that while a shock absorber used to last up to two years, it now breaks down within three months. Windscreens that cost ₦90,000 often shatter within weeks. Abubakar recounted multiple accidents in just two months, including burst tyres, broken shock absorbers, and damaged kingpins all caused by potholes.
Another driver, Abubakar Hassan, revealed that the constant losses have made him consider quitting driving altogether. “During the rainy season, the road becomes a torture. Vehicles sometimes get stranded overnight,” he said.
Passengers also shared their ordeal. Kabiru Zubairu, a frequent traveler, said:
“What used to be a 45–60-minute journey for the 72 kilometers now takes more than two hours. If you leave Dukku at 7:00 a.m., you don’t get to Gombe until after 9:00. It causes serious delays.”
Another passenger, Abubakar Aliyu, added: “Many people have stopped traveling to Gombe because of this road. The journey leaves your body aching. Youths sometimes pour sand into the potholes, but rain washes it away.”
Public affairs commentator, Sulaiman Sa’idu Liman, noted that nearly 64 kilometers of the 72-kilometer road are in a failed state, forcing vehicles to crawl at just 20 km/h.
“This road is crucial for economic activities and social well-being. Farm produce, medical supplies, and even patients are transported through it to the Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe,” he emphasized.
Medical experts are also worried. Dr. Aliyu Bashir explained that the dusty road worsens asthma cases and the constant vehicle jolts put pregnant women at risk of premature delivery.
Chairman of the Dukku Consultative Forum (DCF), Muhammad Bala Hashidu, urged government authorities to prioritize the rehabilitation of the road.
Similarly, NURTW chairman in Dukku, Abdulhamid Hassan, disclosed that at least 10 vehicles break down daily on the road, reducing drivers’ income drastically.
Reacting to the complaints, the spokesperson to the Gombe State governor, Ismaila Uba Misilli, said the government is working with other North-East governors to secure federal intervention for the project.
“Recently, the governors of the region met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to seek repairs of key federal roads, including this one. Because it is a federal road, state governments cannot undertake direct rehabilitation. But our governors are pushing strongly to ensure it is fixed,” he assured.