KUNLE OLUTAYO
In a bid to ensure ease of traffic on the roads during the forthcoming festive period, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the opening of the 2nd Niger Bridge to traffic from December 15 to January 15, 2023.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, disclosed this in Abuja during a meeting with stakeholders on the Road Sector in Nigeria.
He directed that there should be no more barriers on the road during the festive period.
“We have told all the contractors that they shouldn’t open anymore sections for construction, i.e. there shouldn’t be any barrier on the roads this season.
“Let me be clear again. We haven’t finished construction work but we would open it for people to use to relieve the pressure from the old bridge. It wouldn’t be available for heavy duty trucks. It ould only be small vehicles for now until we finish our work. On the 15th of January 2023, we would reverse that movement for those coming from the east to the west. We have told all the contractors that they shouldn’t open any sections of Federal roads for construction during the yuletide. That means that there shouldn’t be any barrier on the roads this season.”
In his remarks the representative of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engr. Chukwunwike Uzor, Director Highways Planning and Development of the Ministry said that the essence of the ember months meeting was to sensitise road users and other stakeholders towards having a successful road passage.
The Director South-West, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engr. Adedamola Kuti during his graphical presentation of the roads under the Ministry on the 2022 ember months stakeholders meeting, highlighted all the critical roads across the six geo political zones of the country under the Ministry, and their conditions with the efforts made so far to put them in good condition towards having good travelling experience during the ember months. Engr.Kuti said “ All controllers of works have been directed to remove construction barriers as from the 15th of December 2022 on the roads for road users to have seamless driving during the festive period.”
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FERMA, Engr. Nurudeen Abdurahman Rafindadi, who spoke at the meeting said, “We have identified some selected locations within 17 corridors where Federal Roads Maintenance Agency is having interventions across the country presently in working relationship with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.”
The representative of the Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC ) at the event, Assistant Corps Marshal Rindom Kumven said, “All Federal Road Safety Commands have been directed to collaborate with stakeholders and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to implement presidential directive on road infrastructure and we have flagged off the ember months sensitisation in all the state commands to create awareness among the motoring public in order to have hitch free traffic movement during the ember months.”
From the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners represented by Kassim Ibrahim, they appreciated the Ministry of Works and Housing and its Agencies for making the roads better.
He said, “We will ensure we put the roads into good use.”
He also drew the attention of the ministry to the activities of some cement companies that ply the roads with overweight cargos.
The Second Deputy Chairman of the Petroleum Tankers Drivers, Comrade Peter Mudesola, said at the meeting, “We can see that the roads are getting better. We thank the ministry and all the Agencies for the efforts.”
The Managing Director of Mothercat Nigeria Limited, Jark Najjar, and the Marketing Manager of CGC Nigeria Limited, Engr. Kevin Jian, with all other road contractors at the event thanked the Ministry for financing their operations through regular special funds and budgets. They expressed their readiness to make the roads safe during the Yuletide.
