Truck owners and other motorists in Kogi state has commended Governor Yahaya Bello for the state government’s effort to make the flooded parts of Ganaja road in Lokoja motorable again.
On sighting the arrival of earth moving equipment deployed by Kogi State Ministry of Works, a motorist, Adejoh Ocheja, expressed gratitude to the state government for stepping in to fix the deplorable section of the road in the state capital.
The Ganaja road, which serves as a major route linking the eastern parts of the state and country, has been overtaken by flood in the last one month with several trucks and other vehicles trapped.
The state commissioner for works and housing, Engr. Abubakar Ohere, who was on site to supervise rehabilitation works, said that the state government cannot fold its hand without making effort to make the road passable, considering the socio-economic importance of the road to the Kogi and the nation.
Ohere noted that the state government is rehabilitating the road to enable the evacuation of trapped articulated vehicles and to also create a palliative for commuters pending the total reconstruction of the road in accordance with the designed master plan.
Asked whether he has received any support from the Federal Government, Ohere said “as at this level of work, the state government has not received any attention or commitment from the Federal Government and that is why we are appealing to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to graciously approve the re-enforcement of the compliance of the contract awarded for the construction of Ganaja road.”
He stressed that the road had already been awarded to three contractors in the past but they are yet to begin work, but because of the strategic location of the road the palliative had to commence while waiting for a lasting solution.
He assured that officers of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other security agencies will be stationed along the road to ensure free flow of vehicular movement.
Ohere also appealed to the Federal Government to dredge the River Niger so that there would be proper flow of water.
He thanked residents of Ganaja and motorists for enduring the hardship faced in the last few weeks and hail the support of the community, describing the synergy as worthy of emulation.
