Residents of Zagah Village and motorists using the Bali–Takum road in Taraba State have appealed to the state government, the Federal Ministry of Works, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), and other relevant authorities to urgently repair a severely eroded section of the highway.

According to the residents, the damaged portion of the road, located near Suntai in Bali Local Government Area, has continued to deteriorate over the past two years due to persistent erosion, leaving the remaining section at risk of complete collapse.

The Bali–Takum road is a major transportation route linking Bali, Takum, Kurmi, Donga, Ussa and Wukari Local Government Areas, as well as the Yantu Special Development Area, making it vital for the movement of people, goods and services.

Residents warned that if urgent repairs are not carried out, the road could become impassable, cutting off several communities and disrupting commercial and social activities. They noted that such a situation would mirror the disruption caused by the collapse of the Namnai road in Gassol Local Government Area.

They called on the authorities to immediately conduct a technical assessment of the affected section, implement emergency measures to stop further erosion, reconstruct and reinforce the damaged portion, and ensure the safety of road users.

An engineer, who identified himself as Vincent, also urged the government to adopt a permanent engineering solution to prevent future erosion, while long-time road user Monday Sanda described driving through the affected section, especially at night, as extremely dangerous.

The residents stressed that prompt intervention would help save lives, protect livelihoods and prevent the need for more costly emergency reconstruction in the future.
:::writing