Deputy Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Tunji
Orisalade, has called on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency to speed up
rehabilitation work on the Ilesa-Ibadan Expressway to avoid further loss of
lives and property caused by the poor condition of some sections of the road.
He also urged the Federal Government to resuscitate the
railway to ease pressure on Nigerian roads.
Orisalade said this in an interview with our correspondent
in Ado Ekiti on Friday.
He said that driving would be a lot easier and lives would
be safer if the agency could hasten the rehabilitation work and put the road in
a good condition.
He said this against the backdrop of an accident which
claimed the lives of three journalists – Adolphous Okonkwo, Kafayat Odunsi and
Tunde Oluwanike–on the road on August 2.
He said that though the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ bus,
which had an accident on the road had a blowout, it could have been caused by
the potholes on the road.
He said, “The volume of traffic on this road is high and
there are still some parts of the road in deplorable condition. Although
rehabilitation work is going on in some parts, it will be good if FERMA hurry
up and repair all the bad sections at once.
“We might not have lost this young persons (the three
journalists if the road had been in a very good condition. It is dangerous to
have ditches on the road and more dangerous when they are there immediately
after good sections of the road.
“FERMA should ensure that all bad spots are repaired on this
road and other federal roads across the country. We are losing so many lives
and many promising lives are being cut short due to avoidable accidents.”
The deputy speaker also urged the Federal Government to ensure
that quality work would be done in the
reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, saying the road had claimed so
many lives.
Orisalade stated that good road network was key to the socio-economic development of any
nation.
He added,” If the railway is resuscitated, there will be
less pressure on the road and volume of traffic will reduce. There are too many
vehicles on the roads especially trucks and tankers. Petroleum products which
are supposed to be transported by rail are daily being moved by vehicles.”
He stated that resuscitation of the railway would reduce
auto accidents and make roads to last longer.
Culled: Punchng
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