Concerned by frequent loss of lives and seeming incompetence of the contractors handling the rehabilitation of the Lokoja — Ganaja road, resident communities on the route have threatened to embark on a mass protest to demand revocation of the 7 kilometers road contract awarded to three different contractors.
It was gathered that on receipt of the threat letter from the Ganaja community, a suburb of Lokoja metropolis, the Federal Controller of Works in Kogi, Engr Jimoh Kajogbola, hurriedly convened a meeting of stakeholders where he urged communities across the country to resist the temptation of embarking on protest over poor execution of road projects.
Kajogbola who advised them to better cooperate and support contractors handling various road construction and rehabilitation projects in their areas. also cautioned communities to embrace dialogue in addressing issues of anomalies and infringements in the execution of the projects.
The stakeholders meeting was also attended by the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police, media professionals and representatives of the contractors.
It also had representatives of the Ganaja community in Ajaokuta Local Government Area in attendance.
He said that there was need for the communities to cooperate with the contractors to enable them deliver quality jobs, in line with the contract terms within the specified time.
According to Comptroller, contractors cannot work efficiently, without the support and cooperation of the communities in the areas where the road projects were ongoing, urging them to always be patient.
While cautioning against mass protests, no matter how carefully planned, Kajogbola advised that protests in the current Nigerian situation, should be avoided by all and in all ramifications, citing the #EndSARS scenario as still being very fresh.
The Comptroller added that in the present era, peaceful protests could easily be hijacked by hoodlums and criminals to perpetuate evil .“You may start it on a good note, but you can never tell where and how it will end’.
Kajogbola however, cautioned the contractors to always ensure that they provide road signs and diversion notices, access roads, carry stakeholders along, expedite action to complete the projects within timeframe and abide by the contract specifications.
Sector Commander of the FRSC in the state, Mr Solomon Aghure, on his part, also called on the three contractors handling the Lokoja-Ganaja road rehabilitation, to consider the plight of communities, motorists and business outfits, along the route.
Aghure noted that there was the need for synergy between the contractors and community leaderships, as well as the corps for effective management of traffic, while the project works lasted, to alleviate the suffering of the motorists.
A representative of the Ganaja community, Mr Abdulrahim Okekenu appealed to the contractors to be wetting the road while work was in progress, to avoid too much dust, stressing that the dust constituted health hazard, to members of the community.
Spokesman of the contractors, Mr Ben Ikyo pledged to abide by the resolutions of the meeting, saying that efforts would be made to ensure timely completion of the rehabilitation works.
The grouse of the communities borders on alleged loss of lives, as a result of road accidents caused by unrestrained diversions, excessive dust, blockage of routes without signs, slow pace of work and untold hardship being caused by the contractors.