There seems to be no solution to the endless blood letting on our roads,just as former Abia state governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu took his pains on the state of the Nigerian nation to the United States.
Kalu believes that more lives are lost by travellers on ill maintained roads across the country than what many countries suffer in terms of casualty in war situation.
Lamenting the astronomical figures,Kalu said,”Nigerian roads have become death traps.There is just a thin line of difference between road users and suicide bombers.I must be clear on this.On a particular day,more compatriots died as a result of traffic accidents than was recorded at Abagana Sector during the Civil War.Truck crushing people in Asaba,Luxury bus burning to ashes near Ore,Fuel tanker setting houses ablaze in Ibadan or a high profile death on the Kaduna-Abuja Highway.These stories are real.”
The ex-governor who had ackowledged the strides of Works minister Mike Onolememen on the Shagamu-Benin Expressway last yuletide, expressed disappointment that the cheer mood vanished after the New Year.
“I do not know what goes on in the ministry.A new minister arrives,settles down to work, then things begin to enter reverse gear.If i had my way,no minister of Works should travel by air.I respect General Mamman Kontangora for that.When he served under General Ibrahim Babangida,there was no flight for him.I even
would like to see President Goodluck Jonathan take a trip from Abuja to Lagos by road.What his eyes will behold could turn the visit to the site of the Dana crash to child’s play,”Kalu added.
On the River Bridge in Asaba\Onitsha, Kalu called for prayers to melt the heart of Nigerian leaders who have continued to play politics with the lives of the people.
“What you hear occasionally is repair works on the Third Mainland Bridge that serves only those of us who live in Lagos.The lone Niger Bridge that links the East,West, North and South really means nothing to the Federal Government.Just go and ask the Road Safety Commission what happens there every Christmas break.In 2011,i saw Sector Commander Omiyale leadind the crew.If there was a Second Bridge, all the officers would have been on other routes monitoring vehicles and saving lives.Even in the jam,a young Nigerian lady was crushed on December 30.Yet we are not at war,”he said.
