₦airaland Forum

A key part of my work as a development communicator involves travelling. Some of my friends who know about this equate travelling with “enjoyment”.

Travelling on Nigerian roads gives one an ironic education. Depending on where one sits in the vehicle, and the camaraderie one strikes with fellow commuters, one usually gets entertainment and information into the bargain. Fortunately therefore, this often separates one from any league of armchair critics and thrusts one in full glare with the sun. One sees things clearly. But as a matter of fact, what travelling on Nigerian roads affords one is this unscheduled opportunity to meet one’s Maker.

I will dwell on this a little afterwards, after I take you back to an article I did here a few months ago. It was titled, Truth about Edo roads. As a matter of fact, the article was a sequel to another wherein I had protested Edo roads. Of course, it drew some flak but I stuck to my guns. A reader said he would appreciate me more if I focused on my state, Delta, a state that can’t boast any quality road in spite of trillions of naira that accrued to it over the years. I agreed with him that I had to look at Delta State as well but wouldn’t wait until I get to the state to say that nearly every road in Nigeria is a death trap.

And so as I travelled to Lagos from Benin last week, I got stuck at Ore. Yes, the famous Ore nightmare was simply impassable and had taken a turn for the worse: our driver told us that two days before, they had no choice but to sleep on the highway, and were lucky to escape with their lives after robbers attacked them. To escape the ordeal they had passed through, we were forced to take a detour through a village where certain young ones collected toll to let us pass. But it was on the journey to Enugu that I really got wind of the calamity that is the lot of roads in Nigeria, and for which a minister in the Buhari administration paid the supreme price early this year.

If you could say that at least that the Lagos-Benin-Ore road resembles a road, what then can we use to describe the Enugu-Onitsha “Expressway”? Yes, I know – it’s the Grand Canyon, that mass of famous and dishevelled rocks and craters which Americans are proud of as a relic of unnaturalness. Because we had been held up at the Ore Road, we only managed to get to this “expressway” by 7pm, a time when armed robbers were just waking up from sleep and cocking their guns to resume work. How we managed to meander through that mishmash and nightmare is a matter for another day.

As I began to put my thoughts together to try to make sense of this Nigerian road, my mind went back to the chap who told me to focus on roads in my state. But if I had any reservations about speaking up, The Guardianeditorial of Friday, September 23, 2016, titled, State of Nigeria’s Roads, pushed those reservations to the recesses of my faculties. Certain people I had the privilege of speaking to said that the government was already trying to do something about the Enugu-Onitsha Road, and so I should hold my horses.

But for how long are Nigerians going to wait? A 2016 federal capital budget of the South-East states, published by the Centre for Social Justice, indicates that for the three years wherein that road had been in that state, the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing had been budgeting over N80m for the repair of the scourge that is the Oye Ukpo to Orafia-Oran to Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. Who was pocketing those funds? Where is the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency? The people of Enugu State have lawmakers representing them at the Senate and the House of Representatives. Can anyone of these people, especially the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, truthfully say they are not aware of that “expressway”, or that they have not passed through that road en-route for home at Christmas in three years? Why do they keep mum?



http://punchng.com/enugu-onitsha-expressway-shame/

Following

Funny enough, state roads in both states are in good shape n well tarred. Thats why cars don't even ply the major express anymore its now deserted.

The moment when its a yorouba man that is taking Panadol on Igbo matters..
I don't know your plan but... Its Only in South east Nigeria Federal Roads are left in total Destruction.

Ok

FG of all administration totally neglected d south east roads. Funny enough most of d state roads r so good n well tarred. Anambra for example

saintkel:
FG of all administration totally neglected d south east roads. Funny enough most of d state roads r so good n well tarred. Anambra for example

My question is why did Gej got that massive support

From That zone ?

sarrki:
My question is why did Gej got that massive support

From That zone ?

guy I didn't mean just GEJ, even ur OBJ too did nothing for d south east n also got votes from us

saintkel:
guy I didn't mean just GEJ, even ur OBJ too did nothing for d south east n also got votes from us

I agree with you

The question is the way they did was as if the whole

Of South east infrastructure as been fixed

sarrki:
I agree with you

The question is the way they did was as if the whole

Of South east infrastructure as been fixed

My opinion sha- maybe because he was closer to us, u remember d late Dora campaigned for him wen he was Vice under Yarauda

sarrki:
My question is why did Gej got that massive support

From That zone ?

simple hatred for PMB,

And am from that zone

U won't wish even ur enemy to ply on our roads

From okigwe to onitsha passing tru ARONDIZOGU

Enugu to ph

Aba to okigwe

Umuahia to owerri

lustychima:
simple hatred for PMB,

And am from that zone

U won't wish even ur enemy to ply on our roads

From okigwe to onitsha passing tru ARONDIZOGU

Enugu to ph

Aba to okigwe

Umuahia to owerri

May God continually bless you

sarrki:
My question is why did Gej got that massive support

From That zone ?

Because most of the politicians who benefited from GEJ were from my region. Hence, they wanted the looting to continue. Not because, he anything for us, but for the sharing to continue.

amaechi1:
Because most of the politicians who benefited from GEJ were from my region. Hence, they wanted the looting to continue. Not because, he anything for us, but for the sharing to continue.

May your days be long

sarrki:
May your days be long

Amen ooooo. And you too.

saintkel:
My opinion sha- maybe because he was closer to us, u remember d late Dora campaigned for him wen he was Vice under Yarauda

The support should be based on what the region will

Benefit collectively.

Not by individual the truth is those opportunist

politicians and their supporters are self serving

They don't care about the masses.

EMMAUGOH:
The moment when its a yorouba man that is taking Panadol on Igbo matters..
I don't know your plan but... Its Only in South east Nigeria Federal Roads are left in total Destruction.

Bro; don't bring in tribal meaning to this

If the roads are good is for the betterment of every citizen

I loveJonathan but this road issue always makes me very angry with him when I remember it. Not that he didnt do some things right for SE but this sticks out like a sore thumb

Igbos are very poor when it comes to politics... its all mab for himself

We have shown we are easily decived by our leaders as we are emotional people... P

Peter obi and deputy Senate president was particularly close to Jonathan. .. what did they achieve for igbos??

nku5:
I loveJonathan but this road issue always makes me very angry with him when I remember it. Not that he didnt do some things right for SE but this sticks out like a sore thumb

Sorry please name what he got right in the south East please

mrvitalis:
Igbos are very poor when it comes to politics... its all mab for himself

We have shown we are easily decived by our leaders as we are emotional people... P

Peter obi and deputy Senate president was particularly close to Jonathan. .. what did they achieve for igbos??

Thank you sir

nku5:
I loveJonathan but this road issue always makes me very angry with him when I remember it. Not that he didnt do some things right for SE but this sticks out like a sore thumb

Bro


Most times when I talk about issues like this

It's not to create tribal division

Is to make us see why we should see things beyond

ethnic & religious lines.

If a man from zungeru, ogoja, okigwe will make life easy

For the citizenry

He should have our support.

sarrki:
I agree with you

The question is the way they did was as if the whole

Of South east infrastructure as been fixed

Don't even start with that. There's no time Igbos claimed that all had been fixed, fine and dandy. Fact was he gave the Igbos long denied appreciation and recognition deliberately orchestrated through unfair policies. And, knowing what Igbos have gone n still go through in the hands of muslims, we will rather support a Christian any time. Being detribalised has not done us any good and that is why rather than keep pretending, we'd rather have total independence provided regional autonomy isn't coming forth.

The North that voted massively for Buhari despite the number of Northernersthat have ruled ds country without lifting them out of the painful poverty, sickness and backwardness they wallow in, what informed and will always inform their decisions beyond ethnic and religious bigotry?

Please guys ignore the OP, he envy igbos a lot. So please don't take him serious. He should show us Ibadan roof first.

mrvitalis:
Igbos are very poor when it comes to politics... its all mab for himself

We have shown we are easily decived by our leaders as we are emotional people... P

Peter obi and deputy Senate president was particularly close to Jonathan. .. what did they achieve for igbos??

When you have nothing meaningful to contribute, you keep quite. It's not a must to comment, Mr "I am Igbo".

kenny987:
Don't even start with that. There's no time Igbos claimed that all had been fixed, fine and dandy. Fact was he gave the Igbos long denied appreciation and recognition deliberately orchestrated through unfair policies. And, knowing what Igbos have gone n still go through in the hands of muslims, we will rather support a Christian any time. Being detribalised has not done us any good and that is why rather than keep pretending, we'd rather have total independence provided regional autonomy isn't coming forth.

The North that voted massively for Buhari despite the number of Northernersthat have ruled ds country without lifting them out of the painful poverty, sickness and backwardness they wallow in, what informed and will always inform their decisions beyond ethnic and religious bigotry?

Same north that voted Gej & Olusegun Obasanjo from

The southern part of the country in 2009, 2003 & 2011

Didn't say they are Christians .

Please religion is a personal thing within one and God

Also don't forget that God says " behold i am the Lord of all flesh "

So before God we are all human

vengertime:
Please guys ignore the OP, he envy igbos a lot. So please don't take him serious. He should show us Ibadan roof first.

I initially feel like not to reply you

Pls read the letter again & stop adding tribal coloration

To national issues

saintkel:
FG of all administration totally neglected d south east roads. Funny enough most of d state roads r so good n well tarred. Anambra for example

Enugu state roads are also good. People wonder why Igbos clamour for Biafra, FG is the reason.

Ikwokrikwo:
Enugu state roads are also good. People wonder why Igbos clamour for Biafra, FG is the reason.

Jonathan was president for good 6yrs he neglected

The zone that loves him to a fault

Not even to rehabilitate the road

They never for a day clamour for Biafra

That is why many Nigerians see it as being politically

Motivated.

Op in this case, words with picture(s) make no sense.

givan:
Op in this case, words with picture(s) make no sense.

Endeavor to pass through that road on your way home t

To Christmas.

Like the popular saying that seeing is believing

Op in this case, words without picture(s) make no sense.

That road needs both physical n spiritual rehabilitation. Too many live lost on it.