Residents of Biu council area of Borno have commended Aliyu Betara, the member representing the Biu/Bayo/Shani/Kwaya Kusar federal constituency, for building township roads in Biu town.

They gave the commendation in separate interviews in Biu town on Monday.

Rabiu Aliyu, a resident, said that the roads had helped mitigate flooding in his community while providing seamless access to homes.

Mr Aliyu said the intervention addressed a critical need, as some communities in the town were not properly connected by roads until Betara’s intervention.

“This is what representation should look like: directly meeting the needs of your people. We commend the federal lawmaker for helping residents see the dividends of good representation.

“He (Betara) may not be around us every time, but what he has done can be seen, used, touched and felt; that’s governance,” he said.

For Suleiman Isa, another resident, the roads have not only added to the town’s beauty but also reduced transportation costs around the town. He said some residents could easily use bicycles to get from their homes to markets, schools, worship centres, and other locations without paying to enter tricycles.

Mr Isa said the construction of the roads had made communities within Biu town more connected and “that’s why many people now buy rechargeable bicycles and move with ease.

“The roads have really helped students as they now use bicycles to school and the good roads reduce their travel time and stress,” he said.

Esther Daniel said the roads have helped boost economic activity in her community, as shops have been built along the roads where women sell goods near their homes.

Ms Daniel also said the project has improved mobility, especially during the rainy season, when the roads used to flood and become largely inaccessible.

“Now even if it rains, we don’t get stuck at home; we still go and do our normal activities and return safely. Betara has been representing us well, and we will continue to pray for him. It is not difficult to please Nigerians; represent us well, and we will support and love you.

“This is why many people love Betara because he is doing what makes life easy for his constituents,” she said.

For Hauwa Ibrahim, a resident living adjacent to Biu main market, Mr Betara has shown goodwill to his people, and “we are proud of him”.

Ms Ibrahim, however, urged the federal lawmaker to complete other roads that he had earmarked for construction so that “we too can enjoy what others are enjoying.

“Some communities along Gombe Road have been marked for construction but are yet to be done.

“So in the spirit of inclusive governance, we appeal for those roads to be constructed to make it easy for residents there to access their homes and businesses,” she stated.

(NAN)