It is an irony of fate that most of the Federal roads constructed during the famous oil boom era as a link have deteriorated so much so that they now unleash untold misery and misfortune on the people they were supposed to bring succor to. Nigerian roads have been among the most deplorable in the world.
In fact, this deplorable condition of the federal roads has resulted into series of road mishaps with attendant loss of valuable lives and property.
Available data of auto crashes in Nigeria indicate that at least one hundred and sixty-two persons out of one hundred thousand Nigerians are regular victims of road accidents caused by bad roads. This is because the physical condition of our network of roads is such that more than seventy per cent of them are in dire need of maintenance and rehabilitation.
From Port Harcourt to Lagos, Kaduna to Calabar and Yola to Aba, the story is the same.
In fact, traveling to every state, especially in the South-South, South-West and South-East zones is like embarking on a suicide trip as the roads are in a terrible state of disrepair requiring new and costly contracts to put them back in proper shape.
Take for instance, the Federal Government promise to dualise and rehabilitate the East-West road from Eleme junction and other roads in the state, but work progresses in snail speed on the road which ought to have been completed by now.
Thus, road users and the communities along the East-West road have been crying for the poor state of the road which has become a death trap thereby causing several accidents.
The strategic, social and economic importance of the dualization of the East-West road need not be over-emphasized.
In fact, the neglect of the East-West road could be seen as a form of general disregard and counter-productive thinking.
Afterall, the road is a link between and the main artery in the oil producing states of Rivers State, Bayelsa State, Delta State, Edo State, Akwa lbom State and Cross River State as well as other parts of the country and therefore appeal for a change of heart in the interest of economic development and the people.
In fact, here and other oil producing states, inspite of the huge contribution to the national economy nothing tangible shows for it in terms of road network.
That is why priority attention should be given for the early completion of this all season road now.
Truly, because of the deplorable state of Federal roads, economic activities in the country have been adversely affected due to avoidable loss of man-hour.
Nigerians are now beginning to loose their patience on the promise to repair the federal roads.
If there had been proper maintenance culture, the roads built at enormous cost would have remained functional and provide useful services for generation yet unborn.
Worried by this development, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers {NUPENG}has asked federal government to give urgent attention to the poor state of roads across the nation otherwise it would emabark on indefinite strike. However, already the union has embarked on the strike before the Federal Government intervened and subsequently suspended the strike.
Also, the Governors & Rivers State, Abia State, Enugu State among others have continuously decried the total neglect by the federal government to maintain federal roads in their respective states despite the fact that the Federal Ministry of Works officials also ply on them.
They further called for the commitment of the federal Ministry of Works to live up to its responsibility on road construction and maintenance.
The National Assembly members have also expressed disappointment with the deplorable state of federal roads which they said constitute national embarrassment.
No wonder, the Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Mr Osita Chidoka had said at the 2011 Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals conference in Warri that Nigeria was currently one hundred and ninety-one out of one hundred and ninety-two countries that has the world’s unsafe roads.
This is alarming, indeed. Again, the World Health Organization, WHO estimate has it that over one point three million people are killed in road accident and fifty million suffer various injuries annually while over eighty percent of reported cases occur in developing countries with African countries recording the highest number of deaths.
Nigeria occupies the top position among other countries in the world with respect to highway calamities.
All these are attributable to bad roads. It is not in doubt that road communication is one avenue through which the economy can be improved.
It is for this reason that some State Governors have wasted no time on the expansion and maintenance of some federal roads in their respective states with their funds to ease traffic congestion.
In view of the foregoing, it is important to advise that all federal approved roads and infrastructure especially in the south-south zone which ought to have been commenced and completed over the years be given attention by the federal government at this time.
Also, Federal government should consistently monitor the activities of their zonal officers of federal ministry of works in the states as well as the federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA).
For purpose of allowing the roads to stand the test of time, contractors handling all projects including the maintenance work or reconstruction of roads should execute them with agreed specification and also avoid use of inferior materials.
Cases abound where many roads under rehabilitation or maintenance these days soon develop potholes and cleavages even when works are yet to be completed raising moral questions on the justification of monies expended on these projects.
Therefore, there should be a constant and progressive road maintenance culture in the country in order to spare the numerous users the agony of falling into death traps and also ensuring that roads are durable in conformity with best practices.
Written by: FELIX B. I. GEORGE
