IDRIS AHMED, LOKOJA.
Worried by the deplorable condition of Lokoja — Okene — Auchi federal highway, residents of Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State have passionately appealed to the Federal Government and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to as a matter of urgency to come for their rescue, by expediting action on the rehabilitation work on the road to ease their plights and those of commuters plying the road.
The lukewarm attitude of the federal ministry of works and FERMA to the worsening condition of the trunk ‘A’ Road that links the north to the southern parts of the country has been an unbeatable nightmare for travellers and even the resident communities on the affected portion of the road.
Speaking on the terrible condition of the road , the Chairman of Okene Local Government, Hon. AbdulRazaq Muhammed disclosed that the Local Government has written officially to FERMA over the condition of the road
He stated that due to the deplorable condition of the road at the Okene Checkpoint- Ohiana, portion of the road, commuters, trailers, trucks, other articulated vehicles and commuters from across the country, spend nights on the road before passing through to their destinations.
He complained that the unfortunate condition of the road has exposed residents to terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and other criminals who have taken advantage of the bad road to be unleashing incessant attacks on peasant farmers living along the almost deserted route.
According to him some hoodlums have found it easy to pounce on the stranded travellers and vulnerable communities along the road.
“Most worrisome is that in the last two days, the grid lock created by the worsening condition of the road, has extended to Okene township thereby blocking all the major access roads within the town” he stated.
The council chairman therefore appealed to the FMWH and FERMA to do something urgently to remedy the condition of the federal road to alleviate the hardship being faced by commuters, other users of the road and residents of Okene local government area.
Also speaking on the deplorable state of Okene – Okpela – Auchi – Benin road, a human rights activist Ahmed Adoke , said the situation has already caused socio-economic hardship to Okene and its environ in the last one week.
“The grid of distance of six kilometers has become a daily affairs in the one week. We are appealing to the Federal Ministry of works to in the interest of Nigerians come to the aid of the people by fixing the road.
“We are also using this medium to call on BUA and DANGOTE cement factories who are the most beneficiaries of the road because of their numerous trucks plying the road to urgently contribute in remedying the current devastating situation of the roads” he said.
The regent to the Ohi of Okene, HRH. Alhaji Ibrahim Ige Obaro expressed worry over the hardship the bad condition of the road has brought upon the residents of Okene and travelers alike, saying situation has brought a total halt of vehicular movement in Okene town.
He appealed to the federal ministry of works and FERMA to complement the efforts of Kogi State Government by fixing the bad federal Roads that pass through the State.