Yuletide: Nigerians Search Higher Roads To Curb Auto Crashes
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By Mohammed Bababusu
As Nigerians put together for the festive season, some residents of Lokoja in Kogi have urged the federal and state authorities to repair dangerous roads within the state, to stop Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) throughout the Yuletide.
A cross part of the residents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), stated the measure was crucial to allow Nigerians to ply good and secure roads throughout Christmas and New Year festivities.
Kogi occupies a central spot in Nigeria the place folks throughout the nation move by way of the state, serving as gateway to southern and northern elements of the nation, therefore the necessity to restore the roads.
Amb. Idris Muraina, Chairman, Kogi Non-Governmental Network (KONGNet), decried the poor state of roads within the nation, stressing that “Kogi is no exception to bad roads”.
Muraina stated the roads have been being overstretched by site visitors quantity contemplating the multitude of vacationers passing by way of the ‘Kogi corridor’ to different elements of the nation.
“Not till lately the state authorities beneath the present administration has proven some stage of curiosity in sustaining present roads and opening up new entry roads.
“The federal authorities had completed an amazing stage of disservice to the street infrastructure through the years.
“For occasion, the Lokoja – Abuja street has been beneath development since 2003 with out outcomes,
“The Ganaja junction – Ganaja – Ajaokuta that was lately awarded to be constructed utilizing concrete know-how and that job has certainly suffered from a sluggish tempo.
“The Okene – Ajaokuta bypass was being halted for no affordable trigger.
“All these road networks are interconnecting roads that should ordinarily ease the movement of Nigerians within and across the state but they are currently in bad condition,” he stated.
Importantly; the continued development of the overhead bridge at Kabba junction was designed to ease site visitors movement throughout the hall, and permit at no cost motion throughout the Yuletide and past.
Muraina attributed the deplorable situation of the roads to lack of political dedication; corruption and neglect by related authorities within the nation.
He additionally recognized corruption as a serious impediment militating in opposition to efficient operations of street upkeep businesses to repair potholes on the highways regardless of the budgetary provisions.
“The EFCC should beam its search light on projects and contracts not executed or badly executed to bring to book defaulters,” he stated.
Also commenting, Mr Alhassa, the Managing Director, Kogi Road Maintenance Agency (KOGROMA), stated the company and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) had accorded premium to main roads just like the Lokoja – Okene, Lokoja – Kabba, Lokoja – Ejule.
He stated that the Ahmed Ododo administration had procured tools for the KOGROMA, to speed up street rehabilitation within the state.
According to Alhassan, the company is conducting street palliative restore works in eight native authorities areas of the state.
He additionally attributed the dangerous roads to poor development process and high quality; lack of upkeep tradition, load bearing, poor drains, flooding and local weather associated issues.
“The company is finishing up street resurfacing, pothole filling, desilt train and upkeep of street shoulder in addition to development of rings and field culverts.
“However, inadequate funding is militating against proactive roads maintenance,”
On his half, Mukhtar Abdulrahim, the Director of FERMA in Kogi, stated the company had initiated a marketing campaign tagged: “Operation Connect to Your Destination,” to ease site visitors movement throughout the festive season.
He stated the marketing campaign targeted at figuring out and rectifying essential areas on highways, to make sure free movement of site visitors and hassle-free journey for street customers.
The director stated that out of date infrastructure have been largely accountable for poor roads within the nation.
“Many roads have been constructed within the 80s, exceeding their lifespan and requiring reconstruction or rehabilitation, extreme axle loading largely because of the collapse of the railway community.
“The collapse has shifted the burden to roads, surpassing their capacity by threefold in spite of climate change, especially global warming, which leads to increased water levels and flow velocity, damaging roads,” he stated.
The director stated that such challenges coupled with insufficient funding have been hindering efficient upkeep of roads throughout the nation.
He, subsequently, advocated institution of a National Road Maintenance Fund, to encourage sustainable street infrastructure improvement. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Mohammed Bababusu/Rabe Bashir Mani
