Motorists wishing to resume plying the Ilorin-Kabba road trunk by Christmas may have had their hope dashed as the Federal government has removed the road from its priority list.
The Federal government has said that the condition of the road requires a total rehabilitation that can only be accommodated next year.
However, the Ilorin-Jebba Mokwa-Zaria road said to be undergoing massive rehabilitation would be put in better condition before the Christmas period.
A Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Works, Engineer Ummuna Ekenna, told newsmen in Abuja yesterday that the condition Ilorin-Kabba road had deteriorated beyond patching of potholes.
He said that the road could no longer be accommodated on the “Operation Save Passage” because the entire road has become impassable due to years of neglect.
The deputy director disclosed that a team of experts which assessed the road had submitted a report to the Minister of Works, Chief Mike Onolememen, recommending that the road be removed from those to be patched.
He said that the committee recommended a total rehabilitation of the road from Kabba to Ilorin before it can be motorable again.
The President had two weeks ago directed that selected highways in the country, including the Ilorin-Kabba road be patched before the coming Christmas period.
Ekenna however assured that the road would receive attention from next year in view of the recommendations by the experts.
He said that the nationwide rehabilitation works on the selected highways were on-going as schedule in order to meet the presidential directive.
Specifically, the deputy director disclosed that the Port Harcourt- Enugu road being handled by Julius Berger, and Enugu-Okigwe being rehabilitated by Setraco would be completed in the next two weeks.
He also hinted that that the Abuja-Lokoja road would be repaired by Messrs Dantata and Sawoe, RCC, Bulletine and Gitto in addition to the on-going dualization works.
On the Lagos-Ibadan express way whose concession was revoked from Bi-Courtney last week, the director explained that Julius Berger and RCC have been mobilized to the road and have promised to deliver before the Christmas.
Ekenna said that the Minister has released some vehicles to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to enable its officials control traffic for the contractors and to tow away all the abandoned vehicles.
“I can assure you that Nigeria’s would have smooth journey during the coming Christmas. We are working towards that but we need the understanding and cooperation of the commercial drivers”, he said.
