‎Community Watch: Kaduna’s Mishigi In Need Of Social Amenities

Mishigi, Nigeria – ‎Most residents of Mishigi villages [Hayin Kogi-Mishigi] located in Igabi local government area of Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria, are subsistence farmers living by a riverbank that separates them from other communities.‎ Despite thriving in agriculture, the people of Mishigi lack social amenities such as primary healthcare center, schools, and good roads.

With sparse road network, exporting farm produce from the community to markets in the state has been a significant challenge for the people.‎ While they depend on Canoe as a major means of transportation, accessing health facilities also pose a threat to livelihoods.

Pregnant women from Mishigi village trek long distance to get a boat to cross the river to attend antenatal service in neighboring communities. There have been women who lost their lives trying to cross the river by canoe.

A resident of Mishigi, Samsudeen Abdulmudallib, explained to Rural reporters how he lost his wife during childbirth.

“She died inside a canoe as we tried to rush her to a clinic not far away from our community,” he recounted.

“A friend, helped me to get her into the canoe because she was bleeding [severely] and by the time we arrived the hospital she was dead,” he said.‎‎

‎Some other men living in the community also have similar stories to share.

“Most times, women start their labor around midnight and because we have no accessible road or bridge, [we use a canoe] the only alternative to town,” Abdulmudallib said.

The canoe drivers may have gone home by that time of the night making it more difficult to get the women to the hospital.

“Sometimes, we have no choice but to take them back home,” ‎he said.

Abdulmudallib added that some of the women returned home are lucky to deliver at home while others are not as they either die or lose the baby before morning.

‎‎Dan Auta, another resident, said his wife was almost due to deliver when he decided to take her to his family across the river to be close to a primary healthcare clinic.

‎”As you can see, I’m taking her out of the village until she gives birth because no serious man will allow his wife to die in this abandoned community,” he said.

Dan Auta said the people in the community have been appealing to Kaduna State Government to provide a Primary Healthcare Centre and a bridge across the river. Their appeal is yet to yield a positive result.

A constructed bridge across the river linking the community with others will ease transportation problem in the area and will also boost economic activities in the community, Auta explained.

“The bridge will help our farmers to transport our farm produce to markets in the city which means it will improve our income,” he said.

For now, there is nothing in Mishigi to show that government exists.

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I started my journalism career as a reporter for the New Nigerian Newspaper based in Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria, after graduating with a Higher Diploma in journalism from International Institute of Journalism Abuja. In 2013, I transitioned into freelancing for local and international media organizations. I am a member of Investigative and Developmental journalists team based in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria. Our focus is mainly on rural reporting and development. Our reports led to several interventions in most of the rural communities reported in Kaduna State. I have received several awards, including the Courage in Journalism Award in recognition for my investigative report in Unguwar Kanti a local community of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna state in the year 2016 from Africa Media Development Foundation. In December 2015 I received Bleeder's Pen Award from Hemophilia Foundation of Nigeria for my effort in creating Hemophilia Awareness in Local communities of Kaduna. In November 2016 I bagged developmental and community service award for community reporting from Kadpoly Students Entrepreneur group ( ENECTUS) . In early 2017, I received another award from Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria a Non-Governmental Organization for my efforts in peace and rural reporting. I developed an interest to join Rural Reporters because I share in its vision, passion, and concerns toward giving voice to people living in remote communities across Nigeria and Africa. I believe with my contribution to RR media platform, authorities attention will be drawn to take appropriate action towards focusing more on rural areas in Nigeria and Northern Nigeria in particular. I cover education, health, Water, and Environment.
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