By Correspondent in Lokoja.
Residents of Lokoja, Kogi state capital, particularly commuters and drivers on Friday, renewed their cry to the Federal government to hasten the completion of Gadumo-Ganaja road.
The Reporters recalls that the the federal government contracted the reconstruction of about 10-kilometre road to some companies, to ease agony of commuters, drivers and other plying the road.
Our Correspondent reports that the agony of road users on the facility is usually increased during raining season, as some portions of it, especially the 500 unit/Ganaja village, is normally flooded,thus constituting impediment to free vehicular and human movement.
Drivers, commuters and other members of the society that spoke with our Correspondent at Ganaja on Friday, expressed dismay that, almost a year that the contractors commenced work on the road, they were to the end of it.
“The most annoying thing on this vex issue is the unimpressive nature of work so far done by the contractors.
“They will reconstruct one portion of the road and leave the other side, leaving us with potholes and dust to cope with.
“To make matter worse, we don’t see them working on the road again,” a commercial driver, Asuku Mohammed, told our correspondent.
“The federal government should please complete this short-kilometre road, to save us the accelerated wearing and tearing on our vehicles.
“The cost of repairing my car, by virtue of the fact that I ply the road almost on a daily basis as a resident of this area,is better imagined than said.
“This is besides the impact of dust and gallop on my health”, a civilian service residing at Ganaja village, who pleaded anonymity said.
Some tricycle operators, popularly known as Okada, drivers vowed that they would not ply the road unless the road is motorable.
The drivers said most of them bought their tricycle on higher purchase or loan,adding that they would not be able to repay the loan if they continue driving such fragile vehicle on the road due to attendant wear and tear.
Our Correspondent further reports that the contractors have done work from the bridge between Lokoja and Ajaokuta Local Governnent Areas of the state up to Gadumo quarters.
However,one side of the road from the bridge to Total filling station at Gadumo leaves very much to be desired.
Some other members of the public, who also spoke on the issue, called on the Kogi Commissioner for Workers, Engr. Abubakar Ohere, to come to their rescue again by calling on federal government to complete the reconstruction work.
The online publication recalls that the Commissioner,who visited the road about three months ago and observed the slow pace of work, pleded with the federal government to ensure the return of contractors to the road.
His plea yielded dividends as the contractors shortly after that and called out some works around 200 unit junction to Ganaja quarters and some parts of 500 housing estate towards Ganaja village.
Our Correspondent, who visited the road from Ganaja junction to Ganaja village on Friday between 9 a.m and 10 a.m reports no reconstruction was seen on the road up to the time of filing this reports.
Attempts to see the Federal controller of works in the state, for his comments on the issue, proved abortive.
The road is Strategic to the social and economic development of the state as it serves as a link between it and its eastern flank, southern, eastern and northern parts of Nigeria.
