•Tungan Ladan, Abuja agrarian locale, seeks intervention in healthcare, education, roads
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Nestled in the Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Tungan Ladan is a small agrarian community that embodies resilience and hard work.
However, beneath the surface of this vibrant agricultural hub lies a pressing need for government intervention in critical areas such as education healthcare, road infrastructure and portable water. Its LEA Primary School, built in 1976, is plagued by a leaking roof and lack of essential amenities.
Meanwhile, the local primary healthcare centre operates with only one personnel, leaving residents with limited access to medical services. As these challenges mount, the village head has stepped in to fill gaps in education, but the situation remains dire.
A communal living experience
Visiting Tungan Ladan offers a glimpse into the communal spirit that defines this close-knit community. As our correspondent arrived, she was greeted by the sound of laughter and friendly shouts from children playing in the dirt roads. Their joy was infectious. It was evident that childhood innocence thrived amidst their surroundings.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically when a car drove into the community. The children’s faces lit up with excitement as they surrounded the vehicle, their eyes wide with wonder. They danced around it, giggling and pointing at their reflections in the shiny surface of the car.
This spontaneous display of joy showcased innocence and their playful nature. It served as a reminder that even in challenging circumstances, happiness can be found in simple moments.
The state of education
The primary school has been a cornerstone of education for nearly five decades. It was once a beacon of hope for local families seeking quality education for their children. However, time has not been kind to this institution. The school’s infrastructure has deteriorated significantly over the years.
Today, the roof leaks during rainy seasons, causing classrooms to flood and disrupting lessons. Parents often worry about their children’s safety and comfort while attending classes in such conditions. Basic amenities such as clean drinking water, functional restrooms and adequate classroom furniture are sorely lacking.
Abdullahi Dikko, also known as Bako, is a vital figure in the agrarian community of Tungan Ladan. He serves as the head of the local vigilante group. Bako’s roots run deep. His grandfather was the first settler, establishing a legacy that shaped the community’s identity.
Tungan Ladan is celebrated for its fertile land. It yields in abundance crops including maize, yams, guinea corn, soya beans, rice and okra. “Farming is lucrative here because we have ready-made buyers,” Bako explained. The communal living environment fosters collaboration among residents, many of them are descendants of settlers from various regions in the country.
Bako described how families in the village thrive through farming while balancing other responsibilities: “Our children go to school while parents farm.” Mothers often engage in small-scale trading, selling items like kulikuli and groundnut oil to support their households. This vibrant economic activity reflects the community’s resilience and resourcefulness.
Conflict resolution
On the day our correspondent visited, Bako demonstrated his leadership skills by mediating a dispute between two women in the village. His calm demeanour and ability to resolve conflicts highlight the importance of maintaining harmony in a close-knit community. “In Lungan Ladan, we believe in settling our differences peacefully,” he said.
His role extends beyond conflict resolution. He also coordinates agricultural efforts for villagers looking to rent out farmlands, engage in cultivation on behalf of their clients and sell foodstuffs in bulk. By advising residents to deal with the village chief and his cabinet rather than individuals directly, Bako helps prevent potential disputes over payments or services.
“We ensure that we only work with peaceful individuals that will not short change our people or claim that he or she has been cheated,” he explained.
The villagers also volunteer their labour for those needing assistance with farming: “We consult with families to ensure everyone is on the same page before making any agreements.” This collaborative approach not only fosters trust but also ensures that all parties benefit from their efforts.
Danjuma Abdullahi, aka Commander, plays a pivotal role in the agricultural community. He oversees both farming and livestock rearing: “We rear cows, rams and goats, selling them both in the market and within the village. The villagers collaborate closely on farming activities, ensuring that all parties benefit equally from their harvests.
“We consult with families to make sure everyone is on the same page before sealing any deals.” This helps maintain harmony and prevents disputes over resources.
However, the community faces some challenges. Commander: “We don’t have a standby market or access to drinking water. There are no boreholes.” These deficiencies highlight the urgent need for external support to improve living conditions.
Education: A struggling system
Education in Lungan Ladan is fraught with difficulties. While some families can afford private schools for their children, many rely on the local school, which suffers from chronic underfunding with leaking roofs.
“Teachers are sometimes owed four months’ salaries,” Commander revealed. This financial instability leads to frequent absences, leaving students without guidance: “When teachers don’t show up, the children are left stranded or play endlessly. Our children travel to Suleja and Zuba for secondary education”
He said the community’s youth face additional challenges, with some turning to drugs due to lack of recreational activities: “We have well-policed measures to prevent them from influencing others but we need government’s intervention to engage the youths.
“Tungan Ladan requires urgent intervention from individuals and organisations willing to invest in education and healthcare. We need schools that can provide proper education for our children. The local primary healthcare centre also struggles with inadequate staffing and resources, further complicating access to medical care.”
Voice of the voiceless
Alhassan Babangida, the community leader of Tungan Ladan, reflected on the rich history and pressing challenges facing his village, which have thrived for over 200 years since its founding by his great-grandfather: “We lack potable water, roads, and a healthcare centre.”
His journey began at age nine when his father, then village head, took him to town for schooling. Living with an uncle, he faced numerous hardships, not due to a lack of teachers but from insufficient resources: “I hustled as a mason to cover my school fees and basic needs.” This determination led him to earn his NCE certification through part-time schooling while working full-time.
After his father’s passing, the community insisted he stepped into the leadership role as the only graduate. Initially he was reluctant due to his government job. He accepted, driven by a desire to negotiate development for Tungan Ladan: “Once any government official or development partner makes a promise here, you will not have a moment’s rest until you fulfil it because I will be on your case.”
He recounted negotiations with government officials regarding road construction: “I told them we don’t need compensation, when they gave us a condition that they will not pay compensation for land that will be affected by road construction, just give us good roads. I only insisted that those with farmlands be compensated to cover their loses. They began the road construction but unfortunately it has been abandoned since January 2023.”
His persistence paid off when the Rural Electrification Agency (REC) promised solar energy for the community, a commitment he diligently followed up on: “I so disturbed the councillor and the director rural electrification to the point that they confessed that if other community heads towed my line, a lot of rural communities would have been developed.”
However, he is unhappy with the local school, which suffers from severe shortage of teachers: “I teach two or three classes myself when there are no teachers available.”
He said the community’s only healthcare centre has just one doctor, forcing residents to travel to Suleja for medical care when necessary, what he referred to as a costly endeavour:
Babangida said Tungan Ladan thrives on agriculture: “We even engage in irrigation farming during the dry season. This allows villagers to hire out land and labourers, providing additional income opportunities. Youths also participate in motorcycle transportation services to help move goods to market.”
On farmers-herders clashes over grazing rights: “We try to mediate and ensure herders compensate farmers for damages, when they go against our agreement. If they are resistant, we involve the police.”
For Babangida, Tungan Ladan’s urgent needs include; a market, improved schools and better healthcare facilities: “With a population of 1,500, we deserve basic amenities.”