Nigerian Roads And Their Construction

Unlike what most farmers cherish because of its good work on the soil and subsequent large production of crops,rainy season is dreaded by motorists because of the bad shape it gives our roads and the direct effect of the bad roads on their vehicles,due to poor maintainance or inexpert construction of these roads.Unfortunately,rain,an inexorable natural phenomenon and gift from God seems to be causing more harm than good to motorists,motorcyclists,passengers and pedestrians alike.It has suddenly turned to nightmare.Our roads are in dire need of serious attention in terms of repair and maintainance so as to ameliorate the worsening conditions of the users.

Road construction in our country like other things have become more of lip-service when compared with other nations with the welfare of their citizens at heart.Despite the large sums of money allocated for road construction and maintainance,only little or nothing is done.The media is often flooded with the news of large sums of money mapped out for our roads but we actually don't see the money at work.Where then do they go?Maybe they have developed legs and walked into the bank accounts of some dubious politicians and contractors,while the unheard masses continue to suffer.When will we change?I wonder why our leaders will prefer to claim to have executed some of these projects that were never touched in the first place.

Another thing that comes to ones mind in this matther is the way our so-called contractors lackadaisically approach the work given to them.It is quite pitiable.Some of these companies lack the needed skill and manpower to construct good roads.Some are owned by some of our corrupt and selfish government officials that use them as a channel to syphon our money.Despite the introduction of 'due process' in the issuance of contracts,unqualified companies keep receiving contracts which they mess up.

Unlike what is obtainable in Aba,Onitsha and other areas in the east where I reside,some state capitals and Abuja have good roads.A trip to Abuja and Lafia made me to have a second thought on the distribution and the use of funds for our roads.I met good roads there.Why is it only state capitals that receive considerable attention in terms of road construction and maintainance?

Even when the roads are eventually constructed,they are done with very low quality materials.The roads have no choice but to get bad again within months,weeks or even days.The roads are constructed without drainage system,thus making them to easily get flooded and destroyed on the slightest downpour.Is it not better to construct roads that will last longer with quality materials and save ourselves the troubles of recurrent reconstruction.

IT WILL ONLY TAKE US SINCERITY TO GET GOOD AND DURABLE ROADS.

Why do we find it difficult doing what is right?

I recently visited Aba and met the bisected roads,potholes and 'artificial lakes' positioned in many parts of that town as usual.The residents are really suffering while the government is silent and insensitive to the people's plight.Those in positions of authority want the masses to re-elect them while obviously nothing has been done .Who is deceiving who?The electorates should be careful.We all should go for what is right.Today,NIPOST retired workers demonstrated because of the 49 months pension arrears owed them by the government.May God help us!

Our leaders are unaffected because they seldom use these roads.This closes their eyes to their sorry state.They fly to any place they want at ease.

Our roads have turned out to be potential death traps for the users.Commonly,we see accidents that are not ineluctable,caused by bad roads.Day after day,innocent lives are lost due to mere ineptitude of our contractors and their companies.The men of the underworld also take advantage of the situation to block and raid road users,often robbing them of money and other valuables,sometimes killing those that couldn't comply.Ofcourse, the police will be no where to rescue them.

I was not surprsised,when I saw a construction company that was given a contract on Owerri-Aba road,pouring ordinary red mud on the road and constituting nuisance.The air saturated with dust becomes life threatening to asthmatic road users.I also saw them using concrete on the road-I don't know whether it is the latest style for constructing durable roads.We should do away with quacks when giving out contracts.

Where is the minister incharge of works?Nigerians are earnestly waiting for his manifestation.The works we are doing at the moment should be properly supervised to ensure proper work done.Funds for road construction should speedily be brought out and channeled accordingly so as to make our nation a better place to live.We will at the long run save people's lives and at the same time reduce the negatives effects of the bad roads on our vehicles,tricycles,motorcycles, bicycles and economy.