Residents and motorists in the FCT on Wednesday expressed concern over the deterioration of infrastructure in the territory.
The respondents expressed their views in separate interviews in Abuja. They, therefore, urged the Federal Capital Territory Administration
(FCTA) to take the necessary steps to immediately effect repairs on some
portions of roads in Abuja, the capital city and its environs. They particularly described the condition of the roads in the six
area councils as ``embarrassing’’, as they do not befit a territory
created to be a model for the states. Many roads within and outside the metropolis, have
become impassable with some portions washed away by erosion or have
become damaged. Some of the roads affected include Alex Ekwueme Way, particularly at
the traffic light at the Jabi Motor Park Junction, Nnamdi Azikiwe
Express Way at the NEPA Junction (Asokoro), towards the SSS Quarters. Also, Nnamdi Azikiwe link to Umar Musa Yar’Adua Express Way by the Velodrome of the National Stadium. Dahiru Ibrahim, a commercial driver who
plies Kaduna-Abuja Road daily, said that his major headache every
morning was the Jabi Park junction. ``My car was bashed three times there as drivers move to meet up with the traffic light when it flashes green. ``Nobody wants to be detained at a place unnecessarily; the authorities concerned should do something fast. ``Jabi Park is one of the major sources of revenue generation centre
for both the FCT and AMAC. Then why will FCTA not do their jobs as we
have paid our bills?’’ Ibrahim asked. Caleb Dogara, a city taxi driver, noted that motorists coming from
the Karu axis to the city centre had a hectic time at two junctions. ``Most of us spend hours from the Asokoro Bridge to the NEPA junction because of the bad portions. ``Some prefer to go through Aso Drive to burst out through Federal Secretariat which is faster if you are going that way. ``We are calling on the FCTA and AMAC to live up to their
responsibilities. People are paying their dues why then will the
government not do its own part?,’’ he asked. Other respondents who spoke on condition of anonimity observed that
the indiscriminate disposal of waste, especially across the six area
councils, posed a health risk. ``If you go from AMAC to Bwari, Kuje, Gwagwalada, Kwali and Abaji, the story is same; waste disposal is a very big problem. ``The council chairmen have failed to live up to their responsibility
to the people. There are no access roads; refuse is disposed
indiscriminately, the health centres and schools lack the necessary
facilities,’’ they said. They noted that pollution of the environment from waste, burst water
pipes and sewage, was increasing daily with slums expanding rapidly in
the FCT. They, therefore, urged the incoming FCT minister to brace up and
ensure that the myriad of challenges in the territory were addressed
speedily. ``The new FCT minister has to move very quickly as soon as he assumes
office to begin to address the problem of deteriorating infrastructure
in the FCT. ``What is happening in the FCT today negates the original idea that
FCT will serve as a model for the development of other states in the
country. ``The new minister has a duty to sanitise the environment and very quickly too,’’ they said.
Meanwhile, FCTA, AMAC and council officials contacted on the
situation, blamed it on insufficient fund to carry out maintenance
works.
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