His Excellency Engineer David Umahi
Honourable Minister of Works
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Dear Honourable Minister,
I write as one of the many Nigerians who regularly travel the Abuja–Lokoja corridor and who are increasingly subjected to avoidable hardship arising from the ongoing reconstruction.
We understand that major roads cannot be reconstructed without temporary inconvenience. But temporary inconvenience must not be allowed to become permanent suffering.
The question is simple: why spread construction slowly across both lanes when one lane could be concentrated upon, completed and opened to the public before work moves fully to the other?
The present pattern of construction at intervals creates unnecessary gridlock, prolongs travelling time, increases fuel consumption and exposes motorists and passengers to considerable stress.
Honourable Minister, please take a critical look at the pace and coordination of the work. Where technically feasible, contractors should be compelled to concentrate equipment and manpower on completing one carriageway at a time, rather than leaving travellers trapped between multiple slow-moving construction fronts.
The Abuja–Lokoja highway is too important to Nigeria to be treated casually. It is a major gateway connecting the Federal Capital Territory to Kogi State and the wider North-Central and southern parts of the country.
There is also a legitimate expectation that the quality and standard of the Abuja–Lokoja reconstruction should match what Nigerians see on other major Federal Government corridors. The performance of the contractors should be closely supervised, and contractual milestones and quality specifications strictly enforced.
I equally appeal to the Ministry to consider extending appropriate street-lighting infrastructure to the Abuja–Lokoja corridor, just as modern infrastructure is being provided on other major highways.
A properly illuminated, well-marked and professionally constructed Abuja–Lokoja road would significantly improve safety and give the corridor the national importance it deserves.
Honourable Minister, Nigerians are willing to endure temporary hardship for permanent infrastructure. What they cannot understand is prolonged hardship caused by slow progress, poor coordination or inadequate traffic management.
Please rescue the Abuja–Lokoja corridor. Accelerate the work. Improve traffic management. Enforce quality. Demand performance from the contractors. And continue to give Nigerians a road they can be proud of.
The road to Lokoja should be a road to opportunity—not a road to endless frustration.
Yours faithfully,
– Musa Asiru Bakare, a Public Affairs Commentator, writes from Lokoja.
