As a student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka [UNN] in the early 1980s, I had tremendous pleasure driving on Nigerian roads. I did not only use my car within the campus, but for inter-city trips.
The habit continued when I moved to Onitsha and subsequently, Lagos; as I would drive all the way between the two cities. Then, the greatest attraction for me was the Benin-Ore stretch. With the 1990s came the increasing manifestation of decays on our roads and related infrastructure. Driving became a nightmare; indeed, my beloved Ore-Benin road took on the stigma of a death-trap, axis for highway robbers’ and agonizing delays. With much regrets, I turned to air transportation for my local travels.
The return to civil rule in 1999 provided some hope as billions of Naira were reportedly spent [nay, sunk] annually for the rehabilitation of existing roads and construction of new ones nationwide. A decade or so later, there was no visible improvement on our roads, including my beloved Benin-Ore highway. When the Jonathan administration assumed office some four years ago, many Nigerians did not expect much – going by the experiences with most of his predecessors.
But, it was a pleasant surprise to hear and read about the massive transformation of the nation’s federal road network, including my beloved Ore-Benin stretch. Eager to relive the feeling of pleasurable driving, I undertook a road tour, which, among others, covered Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja-Onitsha; Onitsha-Owerri and Onitsha-Lagos. For the latter, traversing my beloved Benin-Ore road was like a dream-come-true. President Goodluck Jonathan’s choice of Arc. Michael Onolememen as Minister of Works is clearly a case of a round peg in a round hole.
Beyond the policy and financial backing of the administration, are the dogged commitment and boundless energy of the Minister and his team. Practically on a daily basis, the man is literally at one site or the other with the effect that the administration has increased the availability of motorable federal roads from some 4,500 kilometres in 2011 to over 25,000 kilometres as at the end of 2014. Interestingly, progress report for the road sector is evidence-based.
A few of the highlights of roads constructed, reconstructed and rehabilitated are revealing: Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja dual carriageway; Benin-Ore-Sagamu dual carriageway; Kaduna-Maiduguri dual carriageway; Dualization of the East-West Road [through Delta/Rivers/Akwa Ibom States]; Kano-Azare-Potiskum-Damaturu-Maiduguri highway; Lagos-Ibadan expressway; Keffi-Lafia-Makurdi-Enugu road; Mokwa-Bida road; Akure-Ilesa road; Owerri-Elele Road; Apapa-Oshodi expressway; Ibadan-Ilorin road; Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birnin Yauri-Makera road; Katsina-Daura road; Aba-Owerri road; Ijebu Igbo-Ajegunle-Araromi-Ife-Sekona road; Mararaba-Bali road; Hadejia-Nguru road; Enugu-Abakaliki road ; Abakaliki-Ogoja Junction road; Gombe-Biu road; Ogoja Junction-Ikom road; Vandeikya-Obudu road; Takai-Albasu-Gaya road; Nafada-Gombe-Abba Road; Hong-Mubi road; Kurfi-Charanchi road; Dingaya-Rungo road ; Rumukurushi-Chokocho road; Ado Ilum-Ikare road; Lafia-Doma road; Several other major arterial roads nationwide as well as bridges, embankments and culverts. The administration’s “Operation Safe Passage” has recovered quite a number of failed sections of federal highways; thus, easing the agony of road users across the country.
In the same vein, a National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan [2014-2043] has been developed. Meanwhile, concrete work has commenced on the construction of the strategic 2nd Niger Bridge in Onitsha-Asaba, while the Loko-Oweto Bridge over River Benue has already reached 75% completion level. As an indigene of the South-East geo-political zone, I have also been worried about the state of the Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt highways. But, these concerns were allayed when I learnt that construction work on those roads have been contracted to reputable companies, RCC, CGC, Setraco, Arab Contractors and CCECC.
The foregoing are verifiable and evidence-based, covering just one of several sectors. With current trends under the Jonathan management, it only requires the people’s mandate in the General election to go forward. Nigeria cannot afford to get these transformational road projects stopped or reversed.
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