DO THE SOUTH SOUTH, SOUTH EAST AND KOGI STATE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPS?

Bizarre things are happening to motorists and commuters plying Nigerian roads as many of them, to no fault of theirs, get stranded while transiting from one part of the country to the other due to deplorable condition of federal roads. While some spend nights on the roads for a journey that is less than 10 hours, others don’t even live to tell the story having been involved in fatal accidents, while others have harrowing experiences from armed robbers.

One of the most dangerous road to travel in Nigeria is Abuja-Lokoja-Okene-Auchi- Agbor: If you have travelled from anywhere in the South South and South East of Nigeria to Abuja through the road, then you will understand that this is a road of death. Not only is this road bad, it is a haven of armed robbers. Thousands of passengers travelling the road to Abuja have either died through accidents or have been waylaid by armed bandits and dispossessed of their goods.

If you have travelled from anywhere in the South South, South East to Abuja, you will ask yourself whether those regions have representatives in the National Assembly. It is most unfortunate that none of those representing these regions have found it necessary to move any serious motion in respect of that deplorable condition of the road. For ten years we are told that maintenance of the road is abandoned due to funds not being released. It is unfortunate that because our representatives fly to Abuja, they are no longer interested about the travails of the majority of the people they represent who suffer untold hardship travelling through that road daily. Travelling on the road is traumatic going by the number of gullies that made the road almost impassable.

When you transit through the Agbor- Auchi-Lokoja-Abuja road, you will understand why Nigeria is a failed State. The man-hour lost on the road due to its dilapidation, is a true picture of the Nigerian State. The movement from Abuja to Asaba in a hired executive cab was a nightmare as we spent 12 hours on a trip that should have taken a maximum of six hours if the roads were in good shape.

Despite public outcries and many official visits by ministers and top government officials to see the deplorable condition of the road, a major highway linking States in the South-East and South- South, and the promises of rehabilitation made, the situation remains the same.

The poor state of the road, apart from the human toll, is also causing considerable damage to vehicles. Among of the effects are that vehicles’ tyres wear out easily, rims bend, while shock absorbers and exhaust pipes damage frequently. The pot holes also cause premature damage to suspension and steering holders of vehicles. Lower engine and under carriage components are not spared. Worst hit by the deplorable road conditions are travellers moving farm produce from northern to the southern part of the country.

The condition of that road is unacceptable and posed a significant threat to the growth of the Nigerian economy.