By Reporters
Stakeholders in the transportation sector in Bauchi, Gombe and Jigawa have decried deplorable conditions of federal roads linking communities in the North-Eest region.
They said the poor state of the roads was exposing travellers to transportation difficulties and Road Ttraffic Crashes (RTC), posing serious threat to their safety.
The stakeholders including experts, activists, motoring public and government officials, stated this while responding to survey on roads by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi, Gombe and Dutse.
NAN reports that there are several federal highways spanning hundreds of kilometres across Bauchi state being the gateway to the North-East region as well as neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republics.
However, the roads are in bad conditions due to lack of proper maintenance in spite of high traffic volume, especially during festive seasons.
The roads include Bauchi – Darazo – Postikum; Gombe – Biu, Gombe – Bauchi, Dutse – Birninkudu – Giade – Misau – Azare, Darazo – Bajoga – Gombe, Gwaram – Basirka – Darazo, Bauchi – Tafawa Balewa – Wase, Bauchi – Jos, Bauchi – Babaldu, among others.
Mr Moda Ahmed, a Bauchi-based, Civil Society Organisation (CSO) activist, said the situation called for urgent interventions to fix the roads, and ease movement of goods and services in the affected states.
Ahmed said the deplorable condition of the roads made it a death-trap, resulting to devastating road carnage.
“We urge the federal government to declare a state of emergency on roads in the North-East,” he said
Ismail Babawo, Chairman, Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Bauchi, said the deplorable condition of the roads was a source of concern to them.
“We are concerned about the safety of our members traveling during holidays.
“The government must prioritise road repair to enable commuters have safe travels across the country,” he said.
Dr Sadiya Iliya, a lecturer in the Department of Architecture, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, attributed the bad roads to poor maintenance ocassioned by inadequate funding, corruption and lack of accountability.
She advocated proactive measures to fasttrack holistic approach to address the problem.
Iliya stressed the need for government at all levels to prioritise road maintenance, adding that this would ensure safe roads and economic growth.
Also, Garba Jinjiri, Chairman, Bauchi State Network of Civil Society Organizations (BASNEC), said that poor architectural design was largely responsible for the poor roads in the country.
He said the roads were being built by application of substandard materials and techniques culminating to rapid deterioration of the roads.
Jinjiri also alleged that corruption in the procurement processes contributed to bad roads in the country.
“We have a growing population and increased vehicle ownership, this led to traffic congestion and overuse of the existing roads.
“The heavy traffic on the roads gives rise to wear and tear of the roads,” he said.
He, therefore, advised Nigerians to eschew leaving everything to the government, stressing that host communities should take ownership and maintain the roads.
“Nigerians loathe maintaining public infrastructure. No matter how solid the road is, it will degrade overtime and maintainance breathes life into it again.
“There are situations where erosion cuts off roads, and this could be averted by making water channels around the roads with the cooperation of the host communities,” Jinjiri said.
He further identified insecurity as a major challenge impeding road maintenance in parts of the North-East region.
However, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dutse Sector Command, declared roads as “relatively good,” across the state.
The Spokesman of the Corps, Mr Ibrahim Yahaya, assured passengers travelling during Yuletide of safe roads in view of its good conditions.
“Travelers have nothing to worry about concerning roads in Jigawa, it is safe with very little or no potholes.
“We have no problem with our roads in Jigawa, the only thing is for those travelling for Christmas and New Year to avoid speeding.
“The Corps has been advocating for drivers to avoid overload and night journeys,” he said.
Corroborating earlier opinion, Yusuf Usman, a cab operator, adjudged Jigawa as having one of the best road networks in the northern region.
Usman, who acknowledged potholes on some sections of the roads, said the roads were safe for Nigerians to ply during the Christmas and News Year festivities.
Similarly; Adamu Shehu, the Chairman of the NURTW in Dutse, assured travellers of seamless journeys in view of the good condition of the roads across the state.
“In Jigawa, travellers have nothing to worry about, unless they approach other places with bad roads but here the roads are safe and secure”.
A passenger, Umar Iliyasu, commended Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa, over the rehabilitation of dilapidated township roads across the state.
He said that most of the roads had been rehabilitated in the last one year, adding that the gesture enhanced transportation services in the state.
However, Simon Barage, urged the Federal Government to expedite action on completion of Dutse – Gaya – Wudil – Kano axis, Section I of the Kano – Maiduguri Highway project.
He decried pothholes which deterred smooth trips on the road linking Jigawa and Kano.
“It is a federal road but work has been abandoned, the locals usually assist in filling the potholes.
“Personnel of the FRSC also assist motorists, they are always present on identified spots advising drivers on how to navigate and drive safely,” said Barage.
Commenting, Abbas Muhammad, the Managing Director, Jigawa State Road Maintainance Agency, said the state government had awarded over N10 contract for the rehabilitation of some roads across the state.
He listed the projects to include Arawa – Baturiya; Hadejia – Kafinhausa, Zakirai – Gujungu – Taura – Ringim and Kaugama – Hadejia.
Muhammad said the projects awarded to Alren Nigeria Limited and Triacta Nigeria Ltd, were expected to be completed within 16 months.
More so, Usman Kallamu, the Gombe Commissioner for Works, Housin, and Transportation, said the construction of 100km road projects has reached 75 per cent completion stage across 11 local government areas of the state.
He said the state government was assessing condition of existing roads for improvement sequel to heavy rains which washed out 11 roads across the state.
According to him, the ministry is preparing proposal for the governor’s approval, to facilitate repairs and further measures to prevent damage ocassioned by seasonal downpours.
The commissioner identified other causes of road deterioration to include heavy truck bearing and loads resulting to potholes and structural wear.
Kallamu stressed the need for strict adherence to standards and guidelines by contractors handling road projects.
“This will go a long way to reduce road damage and ensure long-term durability,” he said.
On challenges, Kallamu said financial was a major bane to the provision of quality road infrastructure in the state.
He announced plans by the state government to acquire modern equipment to the Gombe State Road Maintenance Agency, to enhance its operations.
The commissioner also expressed concern over the condition of the Gombe – Biu and Gombe – Bajoga federal roads.
“Following appeals by the state governor, the Minister of Works, led a federal delegation, who visited and inspected the roads.
“We have been informed that contracts for the repair work of these federal roads have been awarded. It is a positive step toward improving transportation for the state’s residents”.
On his part, Mr Abubakar Musa, Director of Works, Bauchi State Ministry of Works, said the state government had embarked on viable projects to improve road infrastructure in the state.
“We are aware of the challenges and we are working tirelessly to address them.
“We have allocated funds for road repair and construction in the state,” he said. (NAN)
