Get Guardian on GoogleThe House of Representatives has called for urgent measures to address persistent traffic gridlock along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway and operational failures affecting the Abuja-Kaduna train service.
The lawmakers on Thursday warned that the challenges had subjected commuters to prolonged delays, financial losses and security risks. They also expressed concern over the disruption of goods movement along the strategic corridor.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Umar Ajilo, who drew the House’s attention to recurring traffic congestion on the expressway and declining efficiency of the railway service.
Leading the debate, Ajilo blamed the worsening traffic situation on poorly coordinated construction activities, narrowed carriageways and inadequate diversion routes.
He also identified indiscriminate parking by articulated vehicles and poorly managed security checkpoints as major contributors to the congestion.
The Kaduna lawmaker said thousands of motorists, commercial transport operators and freight vehicles conveying agricultural produce and essential commodities routinely spent several hours on the road.
He warned that the delays had resulted in economic losses, spoilage of perishable goods and medical emergencies. According to him, prolonged traffic congestion had also increased commuters’ exposure to criminal activities, including highway banditry.
Ajilo also expressed concern over the declining performance of the Abuja-Kaduna rail service, particularly the reduction in daily passenger trips and frequent disruptions to train schedules.
He faulted the railway’s ticketing system, citing online booking difficulties, ticket racketeering and artificial scarcity.
The lawmaker said the situation had forced frustrated passengers to patronise black-market ticket sellers, who charge exorbitant prices.
He argued that these practices had undermined the railway’s capacity to provide a reliable transportation alternative for passengers seeking to avoid the persistent congestion on the expressway.
Ajilo described the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway as a critical economic and social link between the Federal Capital Territory and Kaduna State, connecting communities across the North-West, North-East and North-Central regions.
He said the prolonged disruption of movement along the corridor had consequences beyond commuters’ inconvenience, particularly for economic activities and public safety.
The lawmaker added that the Abuja-Kaduna railway, which should provide safe and efficient mass transportation, had failed to accommodate the increasing number of passengers seeking alternatives to road travel.
Citing Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Ajilo said the security and welfare of citizens remained the primary responsibility of government.
Consequently, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Works and contractors handling the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road project to introduce effective traffic management measures.
It called for the construction of motorable bypasses and diversion routes around active construction zones, as well as the speedy completion of critical sections causing traffic bottlenecks.
The lawmakers also urged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Police Force to establish a joint rapid-response traffic task force along the expressway.
The proposed task force would remove broken-down vehicles, enforce lane discipline and streamline security checkpoints to prevent avoidable congestion.
On the railway, the House called on the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to increase the frequency of daily train services along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor.
It also urged the corporation to deploy additional coaches to accommodate growing passenger demand and improve the reliability of its operations.
To ensure compliance, the House mandated its joint committees on Works, Land Transport and FRSC to inspect the expressway and railway terminals.
The committees are also expected to summon the relevant ministers and managing directors of the affected agencies to explain the challenges and outline steps to address them.
The House directed the committees to submit their findings and recommendations within two weeks for further legislative action.
