By Williams ABAH
Heavy vehicular traffic is a regular feature along the Mararaba/Nyanya Express as commuters have to endure long hours in traffic every day, before making their way in and out of the densely populated area.
Despite the proximity of the road to the city centre and its position as a federal road linking Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue and Kogi states, not much attention has been given to find lasting solution to the daily traffic gridlock on that axis.
Aside from the daily struggles and restlessness that come with residing in a heterogeneous city like Abuja, the unabating traffic situation that is a permanent feature on the three major entry/exit routes in the FCT, that is, Kaduna-Kubwa-Abuja, Keffi-Karu-Nyanya-Abuja and the Gwagwalada-Airport Road-Abuja, constitute a pain in the neck for the average motorists.
Even within the FCC, there are notable spots where heavy traffic is a constant feature. They include Wuse market to Zone 4 junction, AYA Roundabout along the Abuja-Keffi corridor; Apo/Gudu road, Gwarinpa- Life camp round about, and the Alaita-City Gate along the Airport road.
Even though the number of people that pour into the city daily is blamed for the traffic, which is worse in the early hours and late at night, many believe the absence of a functional transport system in the FCT contributes to the traffic issues on the roads.
A cross section of motorists who spoke with METRO, say traffic congestions also occur as a result of traffic violation by the road users. They claim the lanes of the road are not enough to accommodate the number of vehicular movement resulting to violation of traffic laws, such as driving against traffic, beating traffic light, among others.
Mr. Moses Enang, a taxi driver who plies the Nyanya/Maraba route, warns that the traffic situation in Abuja will be worse than that of Lagos if nothing is done to check it.
“I drive on this road every day, I was also a commercial driver in Lagos before I relocated to Abuja, but as I speak with you, Lagos traffic is better than Abuja, this is because of the stringent traffic laws put in place by Lagos state government. I think same method should be replicate here so that Abuja and its environ would get a better road network.”
Before now, it took a maximum of 50 minutes to travel from Keffi in Niger State to Abuja city centre; 40 to get to the city centre from Gwagwalada, and 50 minutes to get to the same location from Nyanya. But presently, these journeys take between one to two hours or even more, except when embarked upon in the early hours.
The development has not only caused the loss of precious man-hours but has also inflicted enormous pains on commuters and car owners. In addition, commuters have to contend with extra-cost at this difficult time of a shrinking economy.
In order to stay in business, transporters routinely hike transport fares across the board, especially during fuel scarcity. Investigation revealed that commuters plying Mararaba/Nyanya road sometimes pay up to 200 percent increment whenever there is traffic gridlock.
Recounting her daily experiences, a fruit vendor at the federal secretariat, Mrs. Chinansa Eneche, said that the traffic gridlock she experiences daily along Mararaba/Nyanya axis seems to defy logic.
In her words, “I come to Abuja from Masaka every working day to sell fruits, including mangoes, oranges and pawpaw etc. All my attempts to predict the traffic have failed. My strategies of leaving the house early or late to avoid rush hours always fail, because the traffic is always there. I end up spending part of my meagre profit on the high fare and on drugs. This should not be.”
In narrating his ordeal, a taxi driver in Abuja city centre, Mr. Chidi Okafor, said: “I come to the town at least thrice a week from Keffi. Apart from the litres of fuel I burn in the gridlock, the situation has several times caused my vehicle to need a mechanic or panel beater’s attention. Expectedly, I spend thousands of naira for the maintenance of my vehicle.”
He continued: “I think one of the best solutions to this, is for the federal government to relocate some of the ministries, departments and agencies to other local councils across the FCT.”
A cross section of traffic officers interviewed at AYA roundabout however assured that efforts have been put in place to ensure that the FCT task force committee works round the clock in its bid to address traffic challenges along Mararaba/Nyanya axis.
Mr. Garuba Omaye, a Road Safety Officer, said the Corps is investing a lot of human resources to address the traffic challenges on the Nyanya axis.
“As early as 5 am and 5:30 pm, which are prime times for us, our men are always out to control traffic. We do this daily, including weekends all things being equal. We also visit media houses from where we sensitise residents on the need to obey traffic rules and regulations in the FCT.
“Recently, we’ve been going around all the major roads that are linked to Abuja city centre, and have started pulling down shanties built along these roads. We are also clearing all debris along these roads because Abuja roads must continue to witness the free flow of traffic to reduce loss of man-hours, restlessness, insecurity, and to be a true reflection of a befitting nation’s capital,” he said.
He revealed that the FCT has put in place mobile courts at strategic locations to arrest and prosecute violators of traffic laws. “Several persons have been prosecuted by the courts and many more are still facing the laws.”
On chances of bringing back the FCT Urban Mass Transit buses to reduce the number of vehicles plying the roads, Omaye said “I’m not in position to give you the plans of the authority, but for me, I don’t think that will have any effect. Abuja is a city of the so-called big boys and big girls; many of them want to drive their cars to boost their ego; some want enhanced comfort coming to the city centre with their cars. So, I don’t believe reviving the urban mass company will reduce traffic concentration on the roads.”
On whether the suggested relocation of some MDAs outside the city centre to reduce the influx of civil servant going through one direction to their respective offices, would be of any advantage, Omaye admits that such arrangements would definitely make people move away from driving to the city.
He however stressed: “This option has been on the drawing board for long, but I do not see it as being feasible. “So, I am calling on residents to desist from trading along the roads as the practice is not helping anyone. Taxi drivers should stop picking up and dropping passengers at will along the roads while traffic officers should ensure they do their duty at peak periods, if all these measures are taken on a daily basis, traffic congestion would be reduced, if not totally eliminated on FCT roads.”
Despite the groaning, respite seems to be in the offing as the dualisation of the vital road network is ongoing to create additional four lanes on each side of the expressway.
A Chinese company, China Habour Engineering, is handling the dualisation contract and is at advanced stage.
Efforts to speak with the Chinese contractors failed as they told our reporter that they can grant any interview except with ministry officials’ approval and presence. However, off-the-record, an official of the company gave a January deadline for the completion of the project barring any unforeseen delay.
