Leadership (Abuja)
10 November 2008
Drivers and commuters have lamented the traffic hold-up they constantly face along the Abuja/Keffi expressway, particularly the spot between Mararaba and Nyanya checkpoint.LEADERSHIP gathered that the go-slow in this very place causes motorists and commuters who go to work, especially the civil servants who are supposed to report in their various offices by 8am, to report late because of the hold-up.
This is due to the police checkpoint at the Mararaba, Sharp-corner and that of Nyanya Mopol check-point. The police at Nyanya check-point always demarcate the road with drums, which makes the road too narrrow for vehicles to pass. Even when there is opportunity for drivers to move, they find it difficult to move fast because of the narrowness of the road.
The hold-up usually starts from 6.30am and lasts until 9.30am, then begin again around 5pm everyday. Whenever you are passing through this place at this very hour, you are likely to endure a tough time, with hundreds of vehicles struggling to get on.
In an interview with LEADERSHIP, Lilian Ogbaji, a private car owner said: "This go-slow has caused me so much trouble in the office; each time I went to office late, my boss would always be angry with me for late coming. Even when I wanted to explain the situation on the road to him, he will not listen to me. Government should try and do something fast about the hold-up".
Samson Uche, a commercial bus driver who plies the Nyanya and Mararaba route, said "we drivers have suffered along this road because of the traffic jam. I am happy when the hold-up in AYA disappeared, not knowing that the worse is going to happen in this very road (Abuja/Keffi expressway). I feel so bad as the go-slow in Nyanya and Mararaba has became worse".
He added: "If we begin to increase the transport fare now, passengers will not be happy with us, but see how drivers burn their fuel for so long, all because of hold-up. It would be appreciated if government did something urgent about it ".
Comfort Eba, on her own, part said, "Even though, I am not a government worker, but this hold-up also affects me in several ways. Most of my customers come as from 8am or 9am. If they came and I am not in the shop to sell to them, they could go to another shop and purchase what they want. I have lost many customers due to the delay on my way, all because of the so-called go-slow.
"I am appealing to government to do the type of work done at AYA in this place (Nyanya) so as to stop the hold-up. Government should be aware the population of residents in Nyanya and Mararaba is increasing everyday because of the demolition exercise in FCT. They should create more rooms for vehicles to have free movement", she added.
According to Osby Isibor, one thing the government has to do is to construct a road that will link those living along Karu - Karshi axis to the city centre in order to lighten the volume of traffic on the Abuja -Keffi expressway.
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