In a world where accountability is been ignored; even the basic amenities required for a standard democratic system will be in jeopardy. The tragedy that lies behind a state where there is limited or no accountability on public funds, project or structure is not limited to the embezzlement or misappropriation but to the extent to how far it can affect people’s day to day activities and even claim the lives of ordinary citizens.
In a densely populated area, somewhere in Northern central part of Nigeria is a long overdue road construction project that has affected with high impact the daily activities of and has resulted to claim the lives of people in some instances within the area.
The Keffi-Maraba 53km dual carriageway road construction was awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works to one China Habour Engineering Company to rehabilitate, reform and expand for safety and comfortability of the public use.
The Keffi-Maraba road is one of the major trunk road that must be followed by travelers coming within and outside Nasarawa who are heading to the FCT Abuja. Just surrounding the road are rural and urban areas starting from Keffi itself to Gora, down to Gidan zakara, then Autabalaifi, to Kuchikau, Masaka, Ado, Adehi, One man village and lastly Maraba which are all densely populated areas with people engaging in roadside business. In essence it is one of the most busiest and must followed road that has no day or night in the region because of its link to the FCT and beyond.
Sadly, these unprecedented delays and poor coordination by the those responsible for managing and maintaining the continuous usage of the expressway resulted to many unfortunate incidents ranging for affecting people’s activities and in some cases has claimed lives.
In an interview with Mr. Adodo, a public servant who works in the FCT but resides in Auta ba laifi expressed his grievances on how the road has long been attracting traffic during morning working hours and the closing hours of evening. Mr. Adodo said “the most frustrating time is really that morning when everyone is trying to catch up with time while rushing to office and the closing time by the evening especially that Maraba side, if only there is another route to follow, I think I will just utilize but no, this is the only one road that leads to Abuja from this axis” Mr. Adodo further lament on the delay by the contractors and plead the government to take active measures.
Also speaking is Ali Mohammed, a Keke driver who drives keke around the axis. Ali has also expressed his frustration on how passengers and other drivers us to be very impatient in the mid of the traffic whenever it’s congested. Ali has explained how the construction has forcefully made drivers to use one way in most cases which is not a wise decision for a buddy road like that where everyone is rushing or trying to catch up with one or two.
Ali further pointed that in many cases using one way has caused more congestion and accidents considering how impatient people use to be in the environment. Ali said “ if I tell you how many times I fought people here in this road with my keke you will not believe: I cannot even count it either someone hit my keke or I hit his keke or hit someone’s car too…. Ali then smiled and ended by saying we just pray for a better government”.
The unfortunate death count.
In some unfortunate circumstances the expressway has claimed lives of people resulting to the one way protocol with a lesser degree of coordination and management.
Having a one on one conversation with Masa’udu; a bike driver who happens to be an eyewitness during a fatal accident that occurred in Masaka which resulted to the death of a certain woman who was crossing the road. The woman was said to have been newly got married, according to hear say the wedding took place three (3) months before the accident happened.
A young woman, whom some personal information remains undisclosed was just ended by this road says Masa’udu. “On a Thursday morning around 9:00am to 10am we just hear a very loud sound like breakage or explosions then followed by people both women and men shouting and calling what they believe in; we just turned towards the direction because I was sitting on my bike just the way I was sitting now, the we flashily saw a woman lying and before you know people surrounded here and we couldn’t have the clear vision any longer and you know I can’t leave my bike because of thieves. So we all maintain silence and carried away in our thoughts.
The next the we will hear is loud cry and yes she truly dies, we all grieved as though we knew her somewhere so that’s it, thats what I can tell you about the accident”. Masa’udu concluded by saying in his opinion they should just leave the project like that and let everything comes back to normal because this use of one way is causing more harm than good.
Again, along Keffi to Gora community, there has been a fatal accident that occurred which claimed the live of a deserted Navy personnel.
A testimony of a retired navy personnel whom identity is in confidence has also shared a story of a distant friend and Junior in the profession who lost his life after coming out from Zimbabwe (a local bar in Gora community).
According to him, the deceased at the very scene of the unfortunate incidents was not drunk although he went to drink but what really caused the accident that cost the man’s life was the confusion of using one way. He narrated based on eye witness after crossing the first lane which was empty his concentration then focused on the right alone not knowing that it’s one way which entails that cars come come both directions. So after looking right before crossing completely a care came on speed from the left on same way and swept him off which made him died instantly. “Yes I knew him as a Navy but after my retirement I heard that he was deserted but I am not sure and I never asked him” when asked if he personally knew the person who lost his live on the highway.
The retired personnel has also how he nearly got into trouble on the same highway but some meters away from where the deserted Navy was hit to death by a car accident.
The retired personnel shared how he was driving one faithful day around Goshen city at Auta ba laifi then he just saw a death man landed on his car bonnet from no where, he was terrified and after stopping his vehicle coming out from it luckily for him there were eye witness who say the first car that hit and claimed the life of the death person before it landed on his car bonnet.
They explained to him and he felt relieved he said. He lamentation was also linked to the poor management and coordination of the road construction: saying that today you will see this lane as the one way and tomorrow they will change it to another lane and if you don’t follow the route consistently you can end up going the wrong direction and if care is not taken you will engage in accidents.
Actions taken by the government.
In an attempt to intervene in the matter, the federal government through the Minister of Works Mr. David Umahi out of disappointment has withdrew the contract from the contractors over delays, poor management and coordination. The Minister further made a statements that was carried out by different source stating that “Some contractors working on federal roads are not in partnership with the government; they are only interested in the money.”
Despite the minister’s intervention the road construction is yet to be completed.
