Daniel Idonor
2 July 2009
Abuja — THE Federal Government, through its Works Minister, Alhaji Hassan Adamu Lawal, yesterday reacted to the deplorable state of federal roads in the country, in particular the Apapa-Oshodi expressway in Lagos, saying "we have to be careful."
It was not clear who should be careful -- the government, Nigerians who suffer daily, or the media who report the suffering of Nigerians -- as the minister refused to talk to State House correspondents on the matter beyond a terse sentence: "I have discussed the matter with my boss (President), we have to be careful".
Lawal who was sighted with a file containing yesterday's edition of Vanguard newspaper before the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) began, refused to talk to State House Correspondents when approached on the grounds that he had no time; but requested that the reporters should see him later.
This he did twice until the FEC meeting ended. And when he eventually emerged from the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, venue of the FEC meeting , the minister who was not apparently ready to field questions from journalists said "I have discussed with my boss, we have to be careful", a statement that did not make any meaning to reporters.
Asked to explain what he meant by "we have to be careful", the minister failed to utter a word, as he walked out on the reporters.
Vanguard's investigations however revealed that President Yar'Adua, following the various media reports on the poor state of federal roads in Lagos State, had repeatedly drawn the attention of the minister to the issue, asking that he comes up with a workable solution towards addressing the issue as it has become a major source of negative publicity to the government.
It was gathered that the Hassan Lawal, who has served as minister for five years, including three years under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as Labour minister, and two years in the present government, could not come up with any solution.
Vanguard had reported that the Oshodi-Apapa expressway, owned by the Federal Government, has for many years been neglected resulting in its present state of decay.
Vanguard in the report said "one of the city's main arteries, the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway which connects the Murtala Muhammed International Airport with two of the nation's busiest seaports -- Apapa Quays and Tin Can Island Port has failed at several locations.
"The worst points are on Tin Can Island itself, at Ibafon (Coconut Bus-stop to Sunrise), at Berger, and at the turn-off to Lagos-Badagry Expressway at Mile II, where motorists paddle their vehicles through flood.
"Other failed sections are at Rainbow Bus Stop, stretching forth towards Sanya for several hundred metres. This spot has particularly worsened the agonies of motorists in the last few days, with traffic backing up for many kilometres and throughout the day.
"It is also the scene of ghastly crashes as unsuspecting motorists speed into the craters at night. The other major failed section is at Itire (Berliet Bus Stop)."
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The government seems so far away from the people. All they think is that they are privileged to occupy positions that deserve reverence. They look at the average Nigerian with contempt not giving a thought to their daily plight. They should be careful else no part of the globe would be a hiding place for them.
It is unfortunate that the Nigerian people have allowed themselves to be constantly insulted by its Government to the point that a cabnet minister can't even provide an answer as to what his department is doing to ease the deplorable Roads in the Country.It is again only in Nigeria can such a cabnet minister keep his job for the next 24hours.One would suggest that Hassan Adamu Lawal be dismissed from this position or excuse him as it appears he is too lazy or incompetent to be a minister.It will be unfair to the taxpayers of Nigeria to continue to pay for poor performance on any job as more Nigerians keep lossing their lives on our Federal Roads everyday and the Administration can not give any good reason for this to continue and one may be sure that you do'nt get to see such many death trap Roads in the North as the North do'nt get to face petrol sarcity like most part of the Country as fuel is get to be found in that region and should there be oil,the North would have had a mechanism in place to separate from the Country.One may sound naive here, but let the truth be said.The North has been taking the rest of Nation to their advantage thereby making themselves less productive,less educated and parasitical in nature.One day, oil wealth may end then what?.