By Mary Amodu.
The fact that roads in Kogi state, like several parts of the country are in deplorable situation is an obvious fact. Thus, the Kogi State Road Maintenance Agency (KOGROMA), was initiated and patterned after Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), with FERMA operating at the national level, while KOGROMA is saddled with the responsibility of maintain roads and other constructed infrastructure across Kogi State. The Agency, under the supervision of the ministry of works, land and Housing, is charged with the responsibility of ensuring regular maintenance of roads within the state – keeping them motor able all year round.
Looking at the locale where the country is situated, Nigeria covers a wide expanse of land requiring that we should have adequate to enough road networks to serve the exploding population. Unfortunately, in this country, we are still contending with most of the major roads put in place by our colonial masters, narrow and squeezing. Our supposedly ultra modern roads, built from the 1970s, are not particularly wonderful and some of them are death traps. Our people are being killed on them in thousands every year and we are not bothered.
To manage these roads and their users, policy makers came up with different programs and agencies including, but not limited to, the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, all kinds of both state and local government traffic control programs and personnel, yet lives are lost on our roads in thousands because of our carelessness and lackadaisical behaviors.
The paradigm shift from our narrow colonial roads to ultra modern roads of the 1970s and all the traffic control programs and personnel associated with them are nothing but false paradigm. This is not to criticize the programs because it is not good and appreciated when criticized, but criticism is healthy when it attracts changes and developments.
It can be recalled that one of the fundamental functions of KOGROMA is to ensure that roads in the state meet required standard for lasting infrastructural development for enhancing road transportation across the state to complement the efforts of the Federal efforts through the bigger agency (FERMA). This becomes highly relevant considering the fact that a large chunk of the State’s resources is always expended in the sector despite the fact that roads have very short life span, leading to suspicion of corrupt tendencies taking place whenever contracts are awarded for road construction or repairs anywhere in the State. The agency is particularly important in this regard because there is need not only for technical know-how but also transparency in the handling of road projects for quality execution.
Thus the Kogi road Maintenance honcho organization is usually headed by individuals of reputed with capacity to access projects and ensure the meet best global practices in the field of engineering and project assessment. Though the agency claims to hit the ground running upon establishment, going through the length and breadth of the state capital to ascertain the extent of road rehabilitation required, but there is little or nothing to show for it.
It is with the feelings of the sense of frustration and dissatisfaction among residents that writer of this piece went out to speak with respondents on the state of roads and the roles that agencies saddled with the responsibilities of care for them perform. One of them, Salifu Ademu accuses the agencies of not doing anything but diverting the monies allotted them. ‘If these all-important roads in Lokoja had been repaired, none of the destruction to cars and unnecessary accidents on both the highways and roads within Lokoja town would have happened.’ Another sympathizer, Ali Umoru told our reporters that despite all the hullabaloo that accompanied the creation of both FERMA and KOGROMA, little has been achieved in terms road construction and maintenance in and around Kogi State.
‘it is surprising that such agencies exist but nothing is being done on the state of our roads, not only in Kogi state, but also in the country. Go round many roads, especially the federal ones. It is really a sorry situation we are in at the moment.’
‘Sometimes, you can’t avoid these potholes as they are too many and some of these big trucks threatening you from behind at all times whenever you are on the wheel,’ he said.
Some commercial transport operators, who reacted to the issue, expressed varying thoughts on it. Abdulkereem Yunusa said he does not believe that government is wholly responsible for the sorry situation being faced on the issue of roads in the state or country. He said governments at both state and federal levels are doing their best to ensure that the rods get facelift.
The commercial tricyclist, who gave the example of how the roads were few months ago, said left to government, it would prefer that roads were in perfect conditions for the benefits of citizens as it would encourage investors to put their resources in the state’s economy, said but for the rains and the pressure on Lokoja roads, it would have still been in perfect condition for public use.
“If you were in Lokoja just few weeks ago before the rains got this serious, we were riding with our eyes almost closed because of the smoothness of the roads, but since the rains and fact that our drainage system is so bad, the roads are getting bad again.”
Another respondent, Oziohu Raman said that the present administration has shown that it has the interest of the people at heart, especially in terms of infrastructural development, roads, most especially.
The issue of road is so central that the nation’s National Assembly, the Senate, recently mandated the Federal Ministry of Works and Federal Emergency Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, to urgently carry out a holistic reconstruction of all portions of the country’s roads that had become death trap to the motoring public. The Senate also urged the federal government and other relevant agencies to establish ambulances on major highways, saying that would go a long way to saving lives of people involved in ghastly motor accidents.
The Senate also condoled with the families of the departed, the government and the people of Ekiti State, over the ghastly accident in which the Nigeria Medical Association lost its members and prayed for the quick recovery of the survivors, just as it asked the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, to step up public enlightenment campaign on the use of highway codes and safe motoring.
In his contribution, Senator Theodore Orji was, however, emphatic that something beyond imagination must have led to the series of accidents on Kaduna – Abuja Highway, since late Minister of State, James Ocholi, also died at the same spot with his wife and son.
Similarly, Senator Shehu Sani, Kaduna Central, noted that he was the first to have visited the scene of the accident on Kaduna Road, explaining that there were no supernatural forces responsible for accidents on Kaduna Road.
According to him, what is required is for Nigerians to do the right thing by ensuring that there was adequate funding of Federal Road Safety Corps as well as establishment of hospitals on highways.
He said: “I was the first to visit the injured six medical doctors from Ekiti State and the scene of the accident. I want to assure Senator Orji that there are no spirits on that road, but the spirit is in Nigerians to do the right things.”
Also contributing, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, PDP, Abia North, called for a review of the Act establishing Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, restricting them to basic maintenance of roads rather than engage in huge contract award which was the responsibility of Federal Ministry of Works.
In his remarks, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who noted that road crashes had brought out the ineptitude of responsive mechanism of relevant agencies, however, prayed that things would change. He said: “It is obvious now that road accidents on Nigeria roads have brought out ineffective response mechanism and I think this should be looked into, with a view to strengthening relevant agencies.
Some of the roads in Lokoja that need urgent attention due to the reoccurring damage in the spots need to be repaired without delay.
The Road passing through front of Kogi Savings and Loans:
The road has being constructed and reconstructed under the previous administrations, but today it is in terrible state. Drainages along this area are poor leading to damage from uncontrolled water flows. The damages that the road has continued to bring on vehicles and accidents as well as near mishaps is things that can be put behind if the spot is given necessary consideration that it requires.
Fen junction road:
The tar has being removed. Motorists are currently having a torrid time plying that route. There were expectations that KOGROMA would take responsibility to intervene but for whatever reasons, nothing has been done.
Ganaja road, towards 500unit Housing estate:
There is a washout, chemical leakage and cracks on the road which has caused so much hold ups and accidents. The portion of this road, just before the gate of 500units Housing estate is an eyesore. Vehicular movements here is hellish at the moment.
There is no state or country with no zero potholes, and Kogi State is no exception. Expectations from road users in Kogi state still remains that KOGROMA’s target should be eyed on zero potholes in the State capital. If they must continue to be relevant, let them brace up by fixing the roads.
Meanwhile, the Ag General Manager of KOGROMA, Mr O.O Olugbami, has pointed out that inadequate funding is one of the major challenges agency face, even as the agency is prepared to work hard to end the malady being witnessed on Lokoja roads. As a body, KOGROMA is ready to give the people of the state quality of work for roads that meet requisite standard.
“There are so many roads to be maintained but funding are not coming. we have so many healthy equipment but these equipment cannot be fully utilized without adequate funding”, he said.
“We also have the problem of weather and heavy trucks. These in no small way contribute to the ineffective maintenance of the roads
On the role of KOGROMA in roads construction, Olugbemi said, “the roads to be constructed are being contracted out by the ministry. It is after the completion of the road construction that KOGROMA comes in for maintenance.
“For example, IBB way has being contracted out, that is why we have not done anything on that road. After completion, we will step in to maintain it.
Olugbemi, however, confirmed that proposal for the Ganaja road around 500 unit has been submitted.
