Azza community in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger have appealed to the state government to extend the dividends of democracy to it.

The Chairman of Azza Development Association, Malam Abdulmalik Muye made the call on Wednesday in Azza in an interview with newsmen.

“The infrastructure deficit in our area is massive. The road in our community is an apology, especially during the raining season when villages in the area are difficult to access.

“Also the Sabon Ureyi bridge linking Lapai and Gulu has been swept away by flood.

“And because of that, the journey from Lapai to Gulu is now 7 hours as against 2 hours before.

“So we want to appeal to government to reconstruct the bridge so as to open up that axis and improve the economic fortunes of our people,” he said

Muye decried the deplorable state of public schools in Azza, adding that lack of electricity was also a challenge in the area.

“Here, all the good things in life have eluded us. We do not have portable drinking water and our schools are in a deplorable state.‎

“The state of our schools is pathetic and leaves much to be desired; and the schools don’t have enough teachers.

“Electricity has not reached us all these years and these things are all impacting negatively on us.

“We are pleading with the government to consider this area for development projects‎,” he added

He also called for increased security presence in Azza to safeguard lives and property.

Alhaji Umar Abubakar, a farmer in the area told NAN that the infrastructural decay in the community had brought untold hardship to the people.

“The lack of social amenities really hinders our social and economic activities,” he said

According to him, the little development in the area was from self efforts by the residents.

Another resident, Hajiya Lubabatu Isah, called on the state government to empower women in the area with soft loans to boost their businesses.‎

“The women here are workaholic, hence the need for soft revolving loans to be given for their businesses.

“We really need a push from government because we cannot do it on our own,” she said‎.

Malam Garba Tanimu, a business man, said many of the promises made to the people concerning capital projects during the electioneering campaign have not been fulfilled.‎

“Most of the promises they made to build schools, roads and provide portable drinking water for us have not been fulfilled.‎

”Its only during campaign that you will see politicians coming around for our support,” he said ‎

Tanimu called on the state government to give them a sense of belonging by coming to their aid in this time of need.

NAN