- Lists black spots
The Ohimegye Igu of Koton Karfe, Dr. Alhaji Saidu Akawu Salihu, on Tuesday stormed the Federal Ministry of Works in Lokoja to demand urgent intervention on the Lokoja-Abuja Federal Highway ahead of the Ember months, as residents and motorists continue to grapple with worsening road conditions along the corridor.
The traditional ruler said the visit followed a resolution reached at a meeting of the Traditional Council, which mandated him to personally draw the Ministry’s attention to the hardship faced by communities and travellers on the increasingly dangerous route.
He urged the Ministry to take immediate action on critical sections of the road between Abaji and Lokoja, listing specific trouble spots that included the stretches between Chikara and Abaji, Aseni and Omoko, the Idu Bridge, Gegu Egba and Ahoko, Manyare and Gegu-Beki Gaba, and Okpana and Ozi Community, as well as the diversion in Koton Karfe. He also called for urgent attention at the first and second bridges and at Iziho Community.
While acknowledging that the completion of the entire Abuja-Lokoja highway remains the ultimate aspiration of residents and motorists, the monarch said fixing the identified sections in the short term would ease gridlock, reduce accidents and bring immediate relief to road users.
“Every day we live in fear of mishaps that lead to calamity. This is why the Traditional Council asked me to personally visit and express our concern over the state of the Abuja-Lokoja Federal Road,” he said.
He added that the persistent gridlock forces residents and motorists into long queues on the approach into Lokoja, resulting in lost man-hours and, in some cases, fatalities.
“I urge you to take responsibility as we enter the Ember months. Our people and motorists plying the Abuja-Lokoja Federal Highway have suffered untold hardship,” he said.
Ministry Responds, Cites Concrete Conversion for Delays
Responding, the Kogi State Acting Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Owoniya Bankole, acknowledged the monarch’s concerns and described the Koton Karfe-Abaji section as a hotspot on the corridor. He expressed optimism, however, that measures to ease the suffering of communities along the route had already been activated.
Engr. Bankole explained that the ongoing delays stemmed from the Federal Government’s decision to convert the road from asphalt to concrete, a process he said was slower but would ultimately deliver greater value, durability and a longer lifespan with minimal maintenance. He assured that priority attention would be given to the sections flagged by the traditional ruler.
The Controller said the Federal Ministry of Works accepted responsibility for the state of the road and apologised to residents and motorists, adding that efforts would be intensified to reduce the challenges and make the corridor safer.
He further disclosed that the Ministry would collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps and other security agencies to tackle the factors contributing to gridlock on the Abuja-Lokoja highway with utmost urgency.
The highlight of the visit was the formal presentation of a letter addressed to the Minister of Works, delivered by the Ohimegye Igu of Koton Karfe to the Acting Federal Controller of Works.
