Open Letter to Gov Ododo on Need to Stop Needless Deaths on Felele Road in Lokoja

Saturday 3rd , May 2025.

His Excellency
Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman
Executive Governor
Kogi State – Nigeria.

Your Excellency Sir,

OPEN LETTER TO THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KOGI STATE, H.E ALHAJI ODODO AHMED USMAN ON THE QUICK NEED TO STOP THE NEEDLESS DEATHS AND DESTRUCTIONS OF LIVES AND PROPERTIES ON FELELE ROAD LOKOJA.

Your Excellency Sir, the Governor with listening ears, the one with resolve and determination to keep Kogi on track and ensure a worthy place in the committee of states, H.E Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman, we celebrate you.

We are a group of concerned voluntary individuals under the name of ENOUGH OF FELELE TRUCKS’ ACCIDENTS INITIATIVE (EFTAI), who believes Government can not do it all and alone; and as such took upon ourselves the responsibilities of ensuring that the last horrible accident that claimed lives, of students (youths) on FELELE road, involving several students of Federal University Lokoja is indeed the last.

We are much aware that, several things are contesting for your attention and you are doing the best you can, and as such we have decided to bring this to “your consistent reminder” and call passionately on you for solutions, to avoid another tragic occurrence, as we are well aware too, that you care absolutely about every lives in this state, and even those passing bye!

Your Excellency Sir, we noticed the talk about the accidents are right now off the radar as usual, until another one happens, which we say NO to, and that is why we have decided to action the talks, by speaking and working on it, even when none is occuring, so that it won’t occur again insha Allah!

Your Excellency sir, we have thus far, on daily basis being doing what we can handle at our level, by rolling out real time laws (practical dos and don’ts) to help guide users of the road, be it passengers, the pedestrians, the drivers and riders on what to do to keep safe, and we have also for twelve (12) days now, being trying to get your attention through the social media, this being one of it.

Your Excellency Sir, we are making the following suggestions as way out of these drums of agony:

1. That you please call, sponsor and host an URGENT 1 Day WORKSHOP ON STOPPING FELELE ROAD ACCIDENTS, to hold in Glass House Government House to give it the seriousness and bites it needs.
2. That the workshop should include the NURWT, RTEAN, TOAN, Motorcycle Riders Executives, VIO, Fire Services, FRSC, NPF, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Works, FUL, Kogi Polytechnic and other interested private sector members as we are ready to partner you on this and do the ground operations and facilitations.
3. That you harvest the suggestions and ideas from the Workshop with the view to take the best decision possible and commence immediate implementation, through the setting up of an Implementation Committee (IC) with terms of reference and deadline for their operations.
4. That you please, consider our suggested sketch drawings on Weight Control, Brake System Check, Repair, Diversion Park & Resource Center at Crusher before NNPC, which can also fetch the State nothing less than One Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira (N1.5 Billion naira) per annum and further, save lives tremendously, working with the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Finance in Kogi state.
5. That you please, approve the printing of Real Time Road Users Guide (materials we created) for our roads, particularly that axis, which we have crafted and completed the designs in seven (7) different languages, of which four (4) is basically a language in Kogi State, we are sure willing partners Sir.
6. That you please, support the production of the distribution of the materials and organization of orientations/ engagement and production of advocacy jingles and promos with interaction session’ programmes for all stakeholders, particularly in the state.

Your Excellency Sir, we are confident of your ability and capabilities to get this done and beyond, adequately save the state of these needles cries and pains.

Your Excellency Sir, we are particularly disturbed because we do not see the possibility of the construction of a new road or alternative road as a solution, not even achievable immediately, and not in this raining season gathering momentum daily or considering the economic situation in the country to embark on such gigantic project, without a direct budgetary provision, yet people must continue to use the road and their lives must stop being cut short by God’s grace.

It is on this note, our dear Excellency Sir, that EFTAI, reassures you of our unflinching support and our esteem willingness to continue to identify with your leadership and pray that God Almighty in His infinite mercies will keep you, your family and cabinet members as well as Kogi residents safe in the hallow of His hands.

Yours Faithfully

Onibiyo E’Dayo Comrade
Convener

Hajia Aishat Muhammed
ED, Public Matters

Other Members:

1. Aro Temitope
2. Azees Raheem
3. A’Ganiyu Yunusa
4. Oguntomoni Akinola
5. Kayode Agbana
6. Samson Elefiku.
7. Sheu Mohammed
8. Mamood Mo’med
9. Stephen Omotayo
10. Ajibola Babatunde
11. Etswayo Jacob
12. Abdul Ohuru
13. Saliu Ayuba
14. Togun Rtd.
15. Babatunde Teidi

cc: Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Development
Honourable Commissioner for Works and Housing