It is clearly evident today that Nigeria has never had it so good in road development like it is witnessing under the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. He not only put road infrastructure at the front burner of his transformation agenda, but has also harnessed some of the most dedicated people to initiate the reforms for the sector.

Efforts to develop a sound road network across the country as part of efforts to build the necessary infrastructure that would drive economic growth have been the major focus of the present administration. This achieve this programme, he brought the Federal Ministry of Works under the supervision of the hard working Minister, Architect Mike Onolememen who has been praised for his dogged pursuit of the administration’s infrastructural agenda in the road sector.

In less than three years, Nigeria’s road infrastructure has been greatly rehabilitated. Vast stretches of highways that were once death traps have become vital chains in linking regional economic hubs and boosting trade and national integration. The efforts of the government in this area has been a major reason for the continued growth in commerce that the country has been witnessing and also the reason for the constant reduction , year after year, in road traffic accidents and fatalities. These milestones by the government re premised on the fact that the importance of good roads can never be over-emphasized.

These efforts are better appreciated when considered against the backdrop of what existed before especially how motorists suffered untold hardships on the deplorable conditions of Benin-Ore-Shagamu expressway, Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, Abuja-Lokoja highway, Kano-Maiduguri expressway, Onitsha Head Bridge and many other corridors across the country. These conditions had also led to stifling economic circumstances for communities that these highways traversed.

The perennial failure of Ore section of Benin-Ore-Benin highway, which troubled travellers for many years and defied several government’s efforts and deteriorated to such an extent that motorists had to abandon the main highway for alternative routes that meandered through bush-paths has been tackled by the Works Ministry. The highway had also become a major hub for armed bandits as they operated at will.

The journey from Lagos to Benin, which ordinarily took three and half hours suddenly took much longer time and posed great risks for travellers whose sustenance as either  traders or workers depended on the highway. With the new condition, the Benin-Ore-Shagamu highway has now become the driver’s delight as air flight on the same axis has reduced drastically. Commuters on that axis, especially traders coming from the South-East and South-South zones now ply the road in record three and half hours. How soon Nigerians forget the past.

Previously, vehicles on the Enugu-Port Harcourt highway sometimes got sub-merged in deep potholes that once littered the expressway. This highway was also not free from the nefarious activities of robbery gangs who took advantage of the bad spots that spread across its length. Now the road is also being transformed as two sections of the road have been awarded for rehabilitation and works have commenced there. The remaining two sections have also been advertised for award this year, all in a bid to give the entire road total rehabilitation.

It is worth remembering that passengers were increasingly becoming stranded on the Gwagwalada and Lokoja sections of the Abuja-Lokoja highway especially during festive seasons like this. All that has now become history as the road is now motorable because of the dualization which is almost completed. The many ugly tales of motorists on the nation’s highways have changed across the country. This is better described in the nation’s frontline transporter’s recent position to reduce all their fares as a result of the new improved conditions of federal roads nationwide. The decision was made public in ABC Transport’s advertorials in many national dailies. In addition, the Luxury Bus Owners’ Association have also paid commendation visit to Works Minister, Arc Onolememen confessing that the new condition of the nation’s roads under him have brought many of their members back to businesses.

Some luxury bus owners have in the past pulled out of the business because of losses occasioned to bad roads and armed banditry. This local economic index is worth celebrating.

President Jonathan’s decision to swiftly act to give Nigeria roads new lifeline especially through the SURE-P have also elicited commendations from motorists who travel on these roads and also from international agencies who have now found the Federal Ministry of Works a good partner in road safety and development initiatives.

Even with the ugly insecurity threats in some parts of the northern states, works have improved tremendously on the dualization of Kano-Maiduguri road in Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno States.

In July 2013, the President Goodluck Jonathan officially kicked off the construction of the 127.6 kilometre Lagos-Ibadan expressway. The dual carriageway was constructed between 1974 and 1978 and is considered one of the busiest highways in the country.  It is also part of the Trans Sahara Highway that links Lagos on the Atlantic Ocean to Algiers in the Mediterranean. The highway had been neglected by previous governments to the extent that it had become an obstacle course that only the brave hearted would attempt to drive through.

With the approval of the Federal Executive Council, Arc Onolememen introduced a novel form of funding through Road Bonds for the road after the prolonged failure of the former concessionaire. Works are currently on-going on Lagos-Ibadan road by two notable giants in the construction industry; RCC Limited and Julius Berger Plc.

Preliminary work has already started on one of the most anticipated projects in the country; the Second Niger Bridge at Onitsha which was personally flagged off for construction by President Jonathan in March, 2014.



Works have commenced on the dualization of Lokoja-Okene-Benin road alignment in Kogi and Edo States, which some have described as the missing link in the network of dual carriageways in the six-geo political zones. According to sources who are following the developments, it is believed that the government’s goal is to ensure that, in the next two years, Nigerians will be able to drive from Maiduguri to Lagos on an unbroken chain of dual carriageways through Kano, Kaduna, Abuja, Lokoja, Okene , Auchi, Benin and Shagamu to Lagos. It is the same from Kaduna through Abuja, Lokoja, Benin, Asaba, Onitsha , Enugu to Port-Harcourt . If this is achieved, there is no doubt that President Jonathan and his team would have firmly secured their place in the history of Nigeria’s greatest recorded successes.

Another project that has further shown the government’s admirable commitment to improving the country’s network of highways is the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, a vital link between the country’s busiest port terminals and the commercial points that they serve. For many years previous governs abandoned this road without consideration of its important role in feeding the Nigerian economy.  For many, beside the fact that essential funds for such projects of immense economic relevance were being diverted for other less relevant infrastructural projects, there were also allegations that the neglect of the road had political undertones.

Critical section of the Expressway, from Ijesha-Beach land Estate is now wearing new looks and the Trailers Park intended to keep over 400 trucks out of Lagos roads, is nearing completion.

Appreciable works have progressed on the gigantic and iconic Loko-Oweto Bridge, across River Benue with approach roads in Nasarawa and Benue States. Progress on the project is basically tied to the substantial funding from the SURE-P scheme.  The dualization of Suleja-Minna Road in Niger State has also commenced. The Obajana-Kabba road has also progressed after it was flagged-off for construction by Arc Onolememen early this year.

Others also receiving attention includes Ikemba road in Anambra state, Adumagbae-Egba-Akure road in Ondo/Edo States, Mokwa-Bida road and Akure-Ilesa road.



 

 

Apart from these, about 40 other roads have been completed in the past three years. Among them is the dualization of the Section 1 of  Ibadan –Ilorin road,  (from Ibadan to Oyo), repairs of Third Mainland Bridge (Phase Two) which was completed 10 days ahead of the scheduled date, Otta-Owode road in Ogun State, old Oyo-Ogbomosho road in Oyo State, Omuo-Ifaki road in Ekiti State, reconstruction of the Lafenwa Bridge in Ogun State, Gbogan-Iwo road in Oyo State, Ijebu Igbo- Ajegunle-Araromi-Ife-Sekona road in Ogun State, Rumukurshi-Chokocho road in Cross River State and rehabilitation of Uba-Mbalala road in Borno State.

The Ministry of Works has also reconstructed and commissioned the Vom-Manchok road in plateau State, repaired the Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto road  (from Gusau to Talata Mafara) in Zamfara and Sokoto States, Katsina-Daura road in Katsina State, Anka-Daki-Takwas-Gummi road in Zamfara State, Langtang-Lalin-Tunkus-Shendam road in Plateau, Numan-Gombe road in Adamawa and Gombe States, Mararba-Pambeguwa road in Kaduna State, Jebba-Lafiaji road in Niger State, Takai-Albasu-Gaya road in Kano  State, Nafada-Gombe Abba Road in Gombe State and Hong-Mubi  road in Adamawa State.

The dualization of Onitsha-Owerri road with Onitsha Eastern bypass, in Anambra State was also accomplished by this administration.  Other newly completed roads such as Obiozora-Uburu-Ishiagu  road in Enugu and Ebonyi States, the Abakaliki – Mbok (Ogoja Junction) road in Ebonyi  and Cross River States , Owerri- Aba Road  in  Imo and Abia States,  Okpala-Igwurita  road in Imo State and Ikom- Mfum Road in Cross River State  are great landmarks in the history of road development Nigeria.

Flooding occasioned by global warming also had adverse effect on many roads and the Ministry quickly intervened to rectify the situation on several roads. The government has always said that part of its Transformation Agenda is to link all economic centres with good roads. As a result, the ministry completed the rehabilitation of access road to Kaduna Refinery in Kaduna state, access road to Warri Refinery in Delta State and the access Road to Onne Port in Rivers State.

On resumption of office in July 2011, Onolememen quickly proceeded to upgrade the Public Private Partnership (PPP) unit to a full department. As a result, Nigerians are on the verge of benefiting from PPP for road development since budgetary allocations alone are grossly inadequate to satisfy the nation’s appetite for modern roads like other nations of the world.

Maintenance of Nigerian roads has also been accelerated to reduce accidents that had resulted in the presence of a large number of abandoned trucks and cars on Nigeria’s highways. This job has been carried out with remarkable speed and consistency by the road maintenance agency (FERMA). FERMA has maintained over 2,00km of road corridors in the past three years. Today, the presence of this agency on Nigerian highways and city roads is further proof of a working government.

With numerous new policies aimed at efficient service delivery evident at the Federal Ministry of Works, Nigerians of all works have continued to commend the speed and dexterity of a government whose proof of commitment to its promises is evident in its works and not just work.

Hogwash.

Op, warrisdis? *spits*

@OP,

I think any sincere Nigerian will bear witness to the persistent effort of the president to give the Nigerian roads a face-lift. Honestly, I am a witness to the transformation the Jonathan's administration has brought to Nigerians, Despite all odds. Bravo!!!

eposho: Hogwash.

Dumb

alabiyemmy:


Dumb

Is this not a forum where ppl r allowed freedom of speech? If the guy doesn't like your p/r he is
At will to say.
We have over 150mill. Nija tho.