By Ukasha Rabiu Magama
The lives of the commuters passing through Jos-Bauchi road to other states in the Northeast and Northcentral regions are in precarious situations due to the gully erosion that washed away the road in Narabi, Toro local government of Bauchi state.
The affected area has already been declared dangerous by the residents. Though the site has been closed-off with stones and a red rope to serve as a warning signal to motorists, they are still managing to pass through at a low speed because there is no alternative.
Nonetheless, the Federal Road Maintenance Agency FERMA should hurriedly aid commuters by repairing the affected area before it is damaged entirely and cause havoc to motorists flying the roads daily.
It’s good for the FERMA to know that the way is the only way linking the entire north-central and northeast. Also, the Agency is aware that the road is among the busiest roads in Nigeria. Meanwhile, if FERMA refuses to fix up the ashed-away area hurriedly, it will affect and endanger the lives of thousands of commuters and stop motorists’ movement entirely.
Similarly, it’s undoubtedly that the Bauchi-Jos road has become a dead zone for commuters because of the severe potholes along the road. This has been continuously claiming the lives of innocent commuters daily.
Annoyingly, the Bauchi-Jos highway is among the roads recording high rates of accidents in Nigeria. Given this, the federal government approved 348 billion in 2018 for the dualisation of the road from Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi to Gombe. This is to reduce the risk of accidents along the road, but more needs to be done on the ground to actualise the project.
Therefore, since the protection of the lives and property of every citizen is bestowed upon the government’s shoulders, it is significant for the FERMA to urgently intervene by repairing the washed-away area; this is to save innocent lives. Also, since the outgoing president cannot fulfil his promise, we are drawing the attention of the incoming president Ahmad Bola Tinubu to dualise the road; hence the need is to save lives and properties.
Meanwhile, we need FERMA’s urgent intervention before the new administration settles. If not, lives are at stake, and only God knows what will happen if the road is damaged completely.
Ukasha Rabiu Magama writes from Magama Toro, Bauchi state.