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By Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State has promised to establish a mobile court where all those involved in the administration of justice will be available to arrest and prosecute erring motorists, regardless of their position or status in society.
“Government will not be kinder to erring VIP drivers and other motorists who do not respect traffic rules and procedures on Abuja-Lokoja and other federal corridors in the state,” he promised.
Governor Ahmed Ododo made the disclosure during a critical stakeholders meeting on traffic management, enforcement and road safety management held at the Government House, Lokoja on Wednesday.
Represented by the Special Adviser on Road Safety Matters, Dr. Suberu Yusuf John, who noted that in the face of the prevailing traffic situation in the Abuja-Lokoja highway corridor, the need to identify practical solutions, strengthen road safety measures and coordinate deployment of personnel has become necessary to address the menace of traffic jams in the state.
Dr John said the traffic jam situation on the highway for days has caused physical and mental torture to motorists, saying Kogi State has initiated measures that will alleviate the menace as the fire months approach.
He added that the objective of the meeting was to bring together all stakeholders from the road transport sector to brainstorm and offer solutions that will help address the infamous stalemate.
He lamented that Kogi State is located in the heart of the nation, any obstruction on the road will instantly create unimaginable traffic jam as thousands of articulated vehicles and other vehicles cross the road regularly which affects socio-economic losses and warned motorists, contractors handling the road project to take their work seriously to avoid collisions with the state.
Dr. John lamented that the traffic jam that occurred on the Magajia stretch of road, which lasted almost a week, was not a good commentary for the state, and assured the public that the remote causes would be addressed before the Christmas and New Year holidays.
In a remark, the FRSC sector commander in the state, CC Lawal Fagge, said strategies requiring proactive planning, enforcement, public education and rapid emergency response will be put in place to reduce Ember Months traffic challenges.
He charged stakeholders to put in place adequate measures to arrest the identified challenges, while calling for morning deployment of personnel from various commands to ensure compliance and avoid traffic blockages, as experience has shown that it takes a whole night of traffic enforcement to unblock the traffic jam when drivers take a direction to dodge traffic on one lane thereby blocking the entire road to a standstill.
He called on authorities to deploy personnel to identify traffic bottlenecks in Nataco, Banda, Magajiya and Gaba Hills to effectively manage traffic flow, contain perennial obstructions, traffic jams and dangers arising therefrom
Fagge, vice-president of the Road Transport Management Council, urged authorities to form and coordinate a task force with other sister agencies to ensure visibility of staff from various agencies and critical stakeholders to man major roads, market areas and intersections during the period.
He hinted that the agencies that will form the task force include the Navy, police, NSCDC, emergency medical services, fire services, state traffic agencies and other stakeholders, who will identify black areas, create awareness of the areas and ensure palliative attention or repairs of the area.
The road safety officer also urged continued liaison with the Federal Ministry of Works so that the construction of the road does not affect traffic flow, creates palliatives for defective portions of the road and equally creates alternative routes or diversions where necessary.
According to him, “We must educate motorists about lane discipline and patience and ensure compliance with corridor areas during the holiday season, discourage unnecessary night travel, particularly on dimly lit or unfamiliar routes.
“ Strategically position ambulances, rescue equipment and tow trucks along major roads. Establish effective camps and communication channels for rapid reporting and response to incidents.
Encourage transport operators to maintain adequate hours for drivers to reduce fatigue, not to fixate on earning during this period,” he advised.
Other speakers from Police, Army, VIO, NSCDC, Transport Unions, FMC, Ministry of Works insisted on effective synergy with contractors handling reconstruction works on the damaged part of the road to expedite the work and remove heavy equipment and create alternative routes when works are stalled.
Stakeholders have complained about the activities of some road users, especially VIP drivers who often flout operational directives when a traffic jam occurs, thus worsening the situation.
They assured to do everything in their power to ease the congestion by putting everyone on notice including placing heavy towing vans at strategic locations to tow stranded vehicles for a fee as a deterrent to motorists to always put their vehicles in good condition before embarking on the journey.
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