Okwe Obi 

Thomas Hobbes’s description of life as being solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short outside the community succinctly reflects the living standards of residents of Tundu Rami, a village located in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. 

Tundu Rami shares a boundary with another community called Rijia Bukwai mostly dominated by the Tiv from Benue State who were displaced by the perennial crisis between herders and farmers. The population increased due to the protracted conflicts that led to the establishment of another village. 

Moving from Lanto community to the villages is hellish and demanding, because of the roads. It can only be accessed through motorcycles at the cost of N150. Not that the motorcycle will take passengers to the top, they are stopped at a particular place. They climb to the hill where their huts are located via foot. The journey to their houses, though short but tedious and slippery especially during the rainy season. 

The inhabitants who live in round huts are mostly farmers who lack the basic necessities of life like clean water as they squarely depend on a well that is even dried up due to the season. 

Another snag is lack of healthcare. Climbing the mountain to get first hand information leaves one with a sorry memory as it is far from being called medical centre. It has shortage of drugs and medical personnel; while the structure is dilapidated and begging for repairs.

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As for security, they are at the mercy of their creator, because there is no police station in sight. The population is growing as the most of the women are pregnant even when they are nursing other children. 

The Digaji of Lonto village, Ismaila Galadima, called on government to help them construct a bridge to connect his people with other communities. He stressed that even the available boreholes are not enough to meet the needs of the people: 

“As you can see, we lack bridge. If it starts raining, the roads would be over flooded with water. And it inhibits us to sell our farm produce outside our vicinity. We really need government intervention. Mortality rate is high because our medical centre is not up to standard not to talk of our schools with broken structures.” However, respite came their way when Oloeri Foundation visited the communities with so many gifts and medical services. The foundation, in collaboration with Always Sisters Foundation, Gynae Care Research and Cancer Foundation, Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), Africa, Grace Medical Outreach International provoked smiles on their faces. 

Convener of the foundation, Mr. Iyedele Oyedepo, who said the event was a two-day outreach, also administered various medical tests: “We have done community outreach for the past four years. Typically, we gather as a group of friends and look for indigent community around Abuja.

“Then we contact other friends and organizations whom we know can provide medical care or other kinds of care. We have visited a community in Nasarawa State. Most of the medical personnel that came volunteered their time and expertise. Besides the medical care, we also cared about their spirituality. The foundation is faith-based.”

Apart from the medical help, Pastor Golden Okpataku fed them with the word of God. He encouraged them not to give up despite their economic situation because God has the power of change their circumstances for good.