By Abah Benjamin Eneojoh
Engineers from the Department of Highway Bridge and Design (Road Design North) of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing Abuja in partnership with the Kogi State Ministry of Works and Housing and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have begun visit to deplorable roads in Kogi State.
This was revealed today in Lokoja by Engr Omotayo O. Awosanya Head of the Department of Highway Bridge and Design Federal Ministry of Works and Housing during a stakeholders interactive session on the possible ways to profer lasting solution to the incessant road accident in Kogi State.
Recall that after the visit of His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State to the office of the Honorable Minister of Works and Housing, Hon. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) in Mabuchi, Abuja on the need to give urgent attention to deplorable Federal Roads in the State.
Subsequently, the Kogi State Honorable Commissioner for Works and Housing, Engr Abubakar S. Ohere called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to quickly intervene on the the deplorable condition of Federal roads in the State in order to avoid accident in this “Mber” months.
Engr Ohere noted that the State Government can’t fold its hands without making efforts to make roads passable considering the socio economic importance of the roads to the State and the nation at large.
” We are appealing to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to graciously approve the reenforcement of the compliance of the contract awarded for the construction of Ganaja road and others roads in Kogi State” he requested.
Engr Omotayo in his opening speech said that his Team is here on behalf of the Honorable Minister of Works and Housing Hon. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to conduct a site visit to Felele area of Lokoja and other deplorable points in the State in order to create a remedy for the incessant accident in Nigeria.
He further revealed that the two major flash points for road accident in Nigeria are the Felele area of Lokoja Kogi State and the Otedola Bridge in Lagos , stressing that the Honorable Minister of Works and Housing is quite worried on the frequent reoccurrence of ghastly motor accident at these two points therefore demanding stakeholders to brainstorm on the possible ways to end this devastating occurrences within the shortest time.
Suggesting the remedy that could mitigate this nasty occurrence, the Acting Director Civil Engineering Department, Kogi State Ministry of Works and Housing, Engr Simon Oguche maintained that the only ways to avert this menace is to construct an interchange, create a service lane, develop a shoulder and build speed breakers at the necessary points, with this he said problem of incessant accident on Felele area of Lokoja will be laid to rest.
In the same development, Mr Idris Fika, the Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) attributed the cause of he frequent motor accident in the Felele area of Lokoja to Human Activities adding that if the Lokoja International Market is relocated or people are restricted to trade within the market without hanging outside the fence of the market for trading activities, the frequent horrible experience on that road will be drastically reduced.
He further noted that if proper action is not taken now with the presence of Lokoja International Market, Kogi State Polytechnic, Federal University Lokoja, International Terminal, and the proposed Federal Medical Centre on that road, it could be more devastating in the future than what we are currently passing through now.
During inspection to the failed section on Ganaja road, Engr Omotayo appealed to the representative of Federal Road Mentainance Agency (FERMA) Engr Bankole to commence a palliative work on Ganaja road immediately to ease commuters in this “Ember” season.
On reaching Felele site, Omotayo also reiterated that due recommendation by his Team to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing would bring a lasting solution to the incessant road accident in Felele area of Lokoja.
In his recommendation, there shall be a Double Service Lane on the both sides of the road, there shall be an Interchange or Grace Separation and speed breakers on Dual carriage as such will help to decongest the road.
He further added that, a shoulder (Parking Lane) shall be constructed to avoid vehicles parking any how.
This he said will be done in appropriate places on the Felele Road.
Engr Omotayo appealed to the State Government to secure the right of way as such would ease the work of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, he said.
