By Faridat Salifu
As rainfall continues across abuja, residents of dawaki are facing worsening mobility challenges, with persons living with different forms of disability among the most affected by the deteriorating condition of roads linking the galadima axis, village market and dutse.
The community’s already fragile road network has become more difficult to navigate as heavy rains turn damaged and unpaved sections into thick mud, flooded paths and slippery surfaces that restrict movement.
Residents say the situation has created a daily struggle for people with physical disabilities, including those using crutches, walking aids, or those with reduced mobility due to illness, age or injury, who now find it harder to move safely within the area.
They explain that routine activities such as visiting markets, accessing healthcare, attending work or moving between neighbourhoods now require extra caution, assistance, or in some cases, complete avoidance during heavy rainfall.
Some residents say the risk of falling has increased significantly, especially where water collects in potholes, road edges break down, and hidden uneven surfaces make movement unpredictable.
Others note that the impact is not limited to persons with visible disabilities, as elderly residents, pregnant women, and individuals recovering from health conditions also struggle to cope with the terrain during the rainy season.
Community members say transportation has become more difficult, with drivers avoiding certain routes due to poor road conditions, while some increase fares because of vehicle damage risks and difficult navigation.
They also raise concerns about delayed movement during emergencies, as poor road access can slow down response time for residents needing urgent medical attention.
Local voices describe the situation as a growing climate-linked inequality, where seasonal rainfall exposes long-standing infrastructure neglect and deepens everyday barriers for vulnerable groups.
Advocates in the area are calling for urgent road rehabilitation, improved drainage systems and safer pedestrian access that consider the needs of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable residents.
They stress that infrastructure planning must be more inclusive, ensuring that mobility is not determined by physical ability or weather conditions.
Without immediate intervention, residents warn that continued rains will further isolate parts of dawaki, worsen daily movement challenges and deepen the vulnerability of already affected groups.
