Residents of Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State have expressed frustration over the deplorable condition of the Jalingo–Karim Lamido Road, with a video obtained by SaharaReporters showing grown men carrying women on their heads to cross a flooded section of the road.
The disturbing situation has renewed concerns over the state of the road, which residents say has become increasingly difficult and dangerous to use, particularly during the rainy season.
In the video, men could be seen wading through floodwaters while carrying women on their heads in an apparent attempt to help them cross the impassable section of the road.
“Are we cursed in Taraba State?” some residents asked while expressing frustration over the condition of the road.
“This is the road from Jalingo to Karim Lamido. Grown men are carrying women on their heads just to cross,” a resident said.
Residents described the situation as particularly disappointing because Governor Agbu Kefas publicly promised in 2024 that the road would be completed before his next campaign.
During an event in Karim Lamido Local Government Area in 2024, when the then Chief of Army Staff inaugurated projects in Taraba State, Governor Kefas assured residents that his administration would give the area special attention.
“Before my next campaign, I believe that the road from Jalingo to Karim-Lamido would have been finished,” Kefas said in a video obtained by SaharaReporters.
However, residents say the condition seen in the latest video raises questions about the progress of the promised road project.
The Jalingo–Karim Lamido corridor is an important route for residents, farmers and traders travelling between the local government area and Jalingo, the state capital.
Karim Lamido is also regarded by residents and stakeholders as an area with significant agricultural, mineral and tourism potential.
Residents argue that poor road infrastructure continues to make movement of people and goods difficult and limits the ability of communities in the area to fully benefit from those resources.
The road situation is reportedly particularly challenging during the rainy season, when flooding can make already difficult sections almost impassable.
The latest footage has therefore renewed calls for urgent intervention to make the road accessible and safe for residents.
Residents questioned how long they would continue to endure the situation, particularly after the governor’s publicly stated expectation in 2024 that the road would have been completed before his next campaign.
“How long will this continue?” residents asked.
The condition of roads in Karim Lamido has previously attracted public concern. In November 2024, residents of the local government area urged both the state and federal governments to address poor roads, saying inadequate access was affecting farmers’ ability to transport their produce to markets.
Flooding has also affected Karim Lamido in previous years. A 2024 flood situation report by the International Organization for Migration documented 11,844 people affected by flooding across nine locations in Karim Lamido Local Government Area.
