By Correspondent in Lokoja
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Federal Road Safety Commission,(FRSC), Mr Akinfolarin Mayowa Samuel, on Thursday,stressed the need for collaborative effort between government and the private sector in the management of Nigerian roads.
He stated this during a working visit of the House Committee to the Dangote Cement Plant Obajana in Kogi Nigeria stste.
The Chairman,who bemoaned the traffic gridlock at Kabba Junction in Kogi State, however,urged the company to come up its interventional scheme by easing traffic jam, adding that the Lokoja-Kabba road was sensitive and central to the road network in the country.
“Permit me to say thank you for what Dangote is doing. The problem of Nigeria cannot be solved by one person. I must say the country is lucky to have a company like Dangote. Let me add also that we are critical stakeholders.That is why we are here to complement your effort,” he said.
The Chairman urged the company to support the government in the areas of road expansion, and dualization, saying that the government was grateful for all the interventions in the country.
In his response, Dangote Cement’s National Director of Logistics, Mr. Carlos Juan Rincon,said the company would not rest on its oars in the areas of infrastructural development of the country.
According to him, even though it is the responsibility of the government to provide road infrastructure, the company will continue to lend helping hand, as exemplified by the construction of Nigeria’s longest concrete road in Kogi State.
Mr. Rincon said the Lokoja-Road was being overstretched,because other roads linking the North and the South weree grossly in a state of disrepair.
The Spokesman of FRSC,Bisi Kazeem, commended the Dangote Group for making the visit of the lawmakers a success.
“For the fact that the committee has visited, and there is a partnership between government and private sector, shows that Nigeria is working. I think we should give kudos to the Dangote Group,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, the Bajana of Obajana Land, Oba Idowu Senibi,described Dangote as God’s chosen for his numerous interventions, adding that he could however do more to support the government in road construction and rehabilitation.
In the same vein, the Olu Apata,Dr. Frederick D.O. Balogun,expressed appreciation to the company and pledged his continued support for the company.
The traditional ruler, however, said his community had also embarked on community services to support the government and the company.
Meanwhile, motorists have called on the federal government to rehabilitate the road that link Ijumu Local Governnent Area of kogi state with Ekiti and Kwara state.
The motorists, who spoke with our Correspondent in Iyamoye,the boundary between Kogi and Kwara state, described journey on the road as better imagined than said, in view of its highly deplorable nature.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
