By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja
The people of Kogi state have called on the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Abubakar Ohere, to speed the declaration of “Zero pothole” on rural roads, just as the ministry has commenced road repairs in Lokoja, the state capital.
They made the call in separate interview with Duaglobalnews in Lokoja on Wednesday while reacting to the commissioner’s resolve to ensure that roads in Lokoja are free of potholes.
Messrs Tijani Mohammed, Charles Alabi, Oricha Kadiri and Mumuni Abdullahi, said the declaration was timely, in view of the deplorable nature of roads in Lokoja and its environs, but stressed that extending the policy to the rural roads would make the generality of the populace feel the impact of government in their social and economic lives.
” It is gratifying to note that the commissioner has thought it wise to look into the possibility of relieving us of potholes by fixing many roads in Lokoja.However, I feel that the rural roads are even more in precarious nature, demanding urgent government attention,” Tijani Mohammed said.
Alabi reminded the state government that many farmers in the rural areas faced herculean task transporting their produce to the urban towns for sale, due to the sorry state of existence of most roads in many of the local government areas.
“This negative development is not only affecting farmers in their bid to sell their farm produce but also encouraging rural-urban migration thereby compounding the social, economic and security challenges in the state capital. Same goes for other urban settlements in the state,” Charles said.
They, however, commended the state government for its effort in ensuring that roads in the state are motorable and urged it to sustain and enhance the tempo.
The online organisation recalls that Ohere,who made the declaration during the supervision of ongoing road projects in Lokoja said the present administration under the leadership of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was conscious about the situation of roads in the state and determined to change story for good.
According to him, the governor has mandated him to address issues bothering on bad roads in the state, beginning with Lokoja.
To kick-start the governor’s mandste, Ohere said maintenance works had begun on Marine Road, Zone Eight and Ganaja Junctions, as well as other parts of the capital.
He expressed optimism that when completed, the repairs would open up more social and economic activities as well as easy movement of people and vehicle within the state capital.
Thecommissioner,who was particular about the NTA roundabout/NUJ to SUBEB and Cinema junction, said fixing the road would improve human activities hitherto hampered as a result of its dilapidated condition.
The Commissioner said the governor understood the critical role roads construction played in the social and economic sectors of the people, hence his commitment to ensuring swift completion of the roads.
Ohere,who gave kudos to ths staff of the ministry for their commitment to the execution of government projects, however, pleaded with the state government to provide his ministry with much of the enabling environment to operate.
Commenting on the condition of Federal roads in the state, with particular reference to the Ajaokuta – Itobe road, the commissioner said he had sent his resident Engineers to go on-the-field assessment on the road.
This he said became with a view to making recommendations and taking necessary action at the end of the assessment.
Governor Bello began his second term on January 27,2020 following his oath of office along with his Deputy, Chief Edward Onoja, administered by the state Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru Ajanah at Lugard House, Lokoja.
