The Director of Federal Highways and Rehabilitation, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engr. Funsho Adebiyi, has pledged the commitment of the Federal Government to reduce accidents on Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja road.
Adebiyi, who spoke on Tuesday evening during the inspection tour to section one of the project (Zuba-Gbwagbwalada-Sheda axis), also cautioned motorists plying the route against overspeeding.
He assured that the project would be completed at the end of the 2nd quarter of the year, saying that overloading is one of the major challenges affecting the durability of the federal roads. “This road links south west, south east, south south to Abuja. We want to make sure that the number of accidents on this road are reduced to the bearest minimum. The quality of the work has been engaging, the pace is too slow.
“The general public should bear with us , they should maintain lane discipline, drive carefully , this diversion we did if everybody drives carefully and don’t overtake anyhow, there would be no traffic gridlock.
“Everybody is in a hurry and this causes traffic problems, in the completed sections, I discovered that road users are generally impatient, they over speed a lot. When you see people drive on those sections, you will think they are going to heaven, they will be driving at about 160, 170 kilometres per hour, to where and why are they over speeding?
“The resultant effect of over speeding is colossal, as I am talking to you, two of our bridges have been destroyed and we have to repair those bridges again at our own cost.
“Again, overloading is another challenge. We are working on weight bridges as soon as we complete the roads, some facilities will be there, toll plazas will be there, weigh bridges will be there.
“All these things are going to be put there. In Fact, we have one already but our people need to be disciplined. When you drive, maintain lane discipline, regulate your speed there is no point over speeding over speeding to where?
“Why are we risking our lives like this and for every time there is a fire outbreak maybe a truck hits another, it explodes into fire, all these destroy our pavement. And you will come back again and accuse us that our pavement does not last, you won’t know that you are the one spoiling it.
“The trucks again park indiscriminately and they turn our roads to their workshop, we are begging them to maintain lane discipline, don’t drink while you drive, don’t drive while you drink; drive carefully and maintain regular speed,” Adebiyi said.
