Bad state of Bida-Suleja road

Sir: The problem of bad roads in Nigeria has become an embarrassing stigma and as such, I will like to bring to the attention of the Federal Government and that of the Niger State Government in particular, to the bad state of Bida-Suleja road.

The Bida-Suleja road can be counted as having one of the worse portholes posing as death traps in the state. The road is so bad that the vehicle used by commuters to ply the road invariably, retire to mechanic workshops at the end of every trip they make on the route.

This road links Jebba, Mokwa, Ilorin, Lagos; amongst others to the Federal Capital Territory, one can hardly go a mile without coming across numerous and dangerous portholes which have contributed immensely to the high rate of accidents, thus, leading many commuters to their early death.

The bad state of the road seems to degenerate daily as truck pushers and commuters drown in the murky pool especially now that the rainy season is here, and most often in a haste to get to their destination, despite the bad state of the road which often results in a fatal accident leaving many either dead or severely injured.

Armed robbers and other bandits are not left out as they are a constant threat to commuters particularly early morning and at night; they usually attack when commuters come to a halt at a very bad spot of the road.

Bida as a community, is predominantly occupied by farmers and rainy season is close at hand, the farmers need good roads to enable them transport their farm produce to the market and to their neighbouring states and as such the farmers have resulted in sand filling the portholes themselves, which is only a temporary means, as agricultural produce, goods and services are in short supply leading to increase in prices.

The bad state of the road has also resulted in poor productivity of farm produce, as immeasurable man-hours are lost by commuters in the cause of getting to their various places of supply.

The Federal Government and the Niger State government, whose responsibility it is to ensure and maintain good roads across the state, should please take adequate actions needed and treat road infrastructure as a priority to enhance economic development and secure lives and property.

The maintenance of the roads in the state must improve or the state’s developmental objectives will remain unattainable.

Gladys Nkechi Chukwuemeka wrote from Federal Ministry Works and Housing, Bida, Niger State.